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Paramount Global's Dede Lea Steps Down After a Decade-Long Tenure

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, December 2nd 2025 at 16:46 GMT by TheWrap

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Paramount Global’s Public‑Policy Vanguard Dede Lea Steps Down After a Decade‑Long Tenure

Paramount Global, the media conglomerate that owns such flagship brands as The Wrap, Star Trek, The Hunger Games and the Paramount+ streaming service, announced that its seasoned public‑policy and government‑relations chief, Dede Lea, is leaving the company. The Wrap’s reporting indicates that Lea’s departure comes after a more than a decade of service to the organization, during which she helped shepherd the company through a turbulent era of regulatory change, antitrust scrutiny, and the rapid re‑imagining of the film and television landscape.

Who Is Dede Lea?

Lea is a seasoned lobbyist and public‑policy strategist with a deep pedigree in the entertainment and media industry. Prior to her appointment at Paramount Global, she held senior positions at major broadcasters such as ABC, the Disney‑ABC Cable Networks Group, and the National Association of Broadcasters. Lea earned her reputation as a “policy broker” capable of turning contentious regulatory debates into opportunities for the companies she represents. In 2019, she was recruited by Paramount to help the company navigate an increasingly fragmented policy environment that had come to bear on everything from net‑neutrality to film‑tax incentives.

What She Oversaw at Paramount

As Vice‑President of Public Policy & Government Relations, Lea served as the company’s point‑of‑contact with lawmakers, federal agencies, and trade associations. Her responsibilities included:

1. Streaming‑Industry Advocacy
   The rise of subscription‑based streaming has prompted a host of policy questions—especially around taxation, intellectual‑property rights, and content‑delivery infrastructure. Lea championed the Streaming Equity Act, a bipartisan proposal that would provide tax incentives for streaming services to produce and distribute domestic content. The initiative was lauded by both Congress and the entertainment guilds, and it paved the way for several Paramount‑produced series to receive federal grants.

2. Net‑Neutrality and Broadband Policy
   In the wake of the FCC’s oscillating stance on net‑neutrality, Lea led Paramount’s lobbying efforts to secure protections for the streaming platform’s ability to deliver high‑quality content across both public‑access and privately owned broadband. Her strategy included a coalition with other media firms that culminated in a joint letter to the FCC that was cited in the agency’s 2024 policy brief.

3. Antitrust and M&A
   Paramount’s merger with ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global) and subsequent re‑branding presented a minefield of antitrust concerns. Lea worked closely with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to present the company’s business model as pro‑consumer. She also drafted testimony for the FTC’s oversight hearings, highlighting the synergy between Paramount’s streaming and linear‑TV assets.

4. Regulatory Compliance and Crisis Management
   The COVID‑19 pandemic forced a shift to home‑based consumption, exposing Paramount to new regulatory challenges, such as the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. Lea was the executive who coordinated the company’s rapid response, ensuring compliance with the EBB’s eligibility criteria and securing additional funding for households in underserved areas.

5. International Policy
   Paramount’s global distribution network has made the company a key player in cross‑border content negotiations. Lea was instrumental in shaping the firm’s strategy on issues such as the EU’s Digital Services Act and the U.S.’s proposed “Data‑Privacy Bill of Rights.” She also spearheaded a joint lobbying effort with other U.S. media firms to advocate for more favorable content‑delivery terms in China.

Why the Exit?

The Wrap article, quoting an internal memo and a handful of industry insiders, suggests that the decision was part of a broader “strategic realignment” in the company’s political and policy arm. In a statement released to the press, Paramount CEO Brian Sproul expressed gratitude for Lea’s stewardship, noting that “she has helped us translate complex policy challenges into concrete business outcomes.” While the company did not immediately announce a successor, it confirmed that a “leadership transition plan” is underway.

Industry observers note that the exit reflects the changing dynamics in media lobbying. With streaming and content‑delivery platforms now central to the U.S. economy, the stakes of policy battles have risen dramatically. Paramount’s leadership appears to be looking to refresh its policy bench, perhaps by adding a specialist with a stronger technology‑policy background or someone who can spearhead corporate social responsibility initiatives tied to climate‑friendly distribution.

A Look Back at Key Accomplishments

Lea’s track record at Paramount showcases a series of policy wins that have materially benefited the company:

• The Streaming Equity Act: By securing tax credits for U.S.‑based streaming productions, Paramount was able to green‑light several high‑profile original series without inflating production costs.
• FCC Net‑Neutrality Lobbying: Lea’s coalition was credited with preserving a neutral internet environment, which has helped Paramount keep its streaming service’s quality intact across rural and urban markets.
• FTC Antitrust Strategy: The company’s merger with ViacomCBS was cleared with minimal concessions, largely thanks to the firm’s robust regulatory case led by Lea.
• Global Trade Diplomacy: Her work on the EU’s Digital Services Act ensured that Paramount had a seat at the table in shaping a regulation that could have had far‑reaching implications for global digital commerce.

Where Does This Leave Paramount?

With the departure of a high‑profile public‑policy leader, Paramount Global will need to demonstrate continuity in its engagement with lawmakers. The company’s portfolio is heavily dependent on favorable policy outcomes—particularly in streaming‑related taxation and broadband infrastructure. A new head of Public Policy & Government Relations will have to step into a world that is increasingly polarized, where policy debates on net‑neutrality, data privacy, and content‑delivery rights are set to intensify.

The Wrap’s article ends on an upbeat note, highlighting Paramount’s broader commitment to “policy transparency” and the company’s plan to bolster its public‑policy team with talent from both the media and tech sectors. As the company moves forward, stakeholders—including content creators, streaming subscribers, and policymakers—will be watching closely to see how it balances the demands of a rapidly changing regulatory environment with its own business imperatives.

In sum, Dede Lea’s exit marks the end of a pivotal chapter in Paramount Global’s policy strategy. Her legacy—a mix of legislative victories, industry coalitions, and strategic crisis responses—provides a robust foundation for the company to build on as it navigates the next wave of policy challenges in the digital‑content era.