Another important executive is leaving their post at Showtime.
Amy Israel is stepping down from her position as head of scripted programming for the Paramount Global-backed network. The news, which was announced internally Thursday via a memo from Chris McCarthy and Nina Diaz, follows the February departures of Gary Levine and Jana Winograde from their top roles at the premium cabler. (Levine remains an adviser.) Israel is leaving the role effective today, but will remain on in an advisory role through year’s end. It’s unclear if she will be replaced.
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Israel has been with Showtime for more than a decade and helped develop some of its biggest hits, including Billions and Yellowjackets, as well as the upcoming The Curse and Fellow Travelers. Israel joined Showtime in 2011 as senior vp originals and rose through the ranks under Levine and Winograde.
When McCarthy’s MTV Entertainment Studios team was given oversight of Showtime earlier this year, Diaz and Keith Cox took over as president of content and scripted, respectively. Co-presidents of entertainment Levine and Winograde were then pushed out, though Levine — a two-decade veteran at the network — shifted to an advisory role. Other layoffs across Showtime followed as part of the restructuring that saw Israel shift to report to Diaz.
Here’s the memo from McCarthy, who also oversees the bulk of Paramount Global’s linear networks, and Diaz:
Team,
We have both a bittersweet and an appreciative announcement to share with you – our dear colleague and friend, Amy Israel is stepping down from her role as Showtime’s head of scripted today.
For the past 12 years, Amy has been an integral part of the creative team and the driving force behind some of Showtime’s most iconic franchises. From the beloved Billions to the bold hit Yellowjackets, Amy’s love for mentoring staff as well as her ability to nurture and foster talent toward realizing their vision is nothing short of inspiring. Her instrumental role in bringing upcoming, fresh and groundbreaking series like The Curse and Fellow Travelers to life is a testament to her unwavering dedication and devotion.
Under Amy’s guiding influence, the Showtime creative team has played a pivotal role in Paramount’s mission to unleash the power of unique premium global content. The success of Paramount+’s Halo series is a prime example of the wide-reaching impact her creative leadership and team have had on our business. Amy’s passion for the craft, her flair for pushing creative boundaries and commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on Showtime.
But not to worry, Amy will be with us through the end of the year in a transition role. She leaves us in incredible hands with an exceptionally talented group of creatives under Nina’s leadership who will continue to thrive and deliver Showtime premium content that connects deeply with audiences everywhere. And of course, we have Gary — the Godfather of Showtime series — with us as our senior creative advisor.
Please join us in thanking Amy for her remarkable contributions — we wish her much success, happiness and creative fulfillment in her new journey!
Nina and Chris
