Paramount Skydance Fortifies Leadership with Key Public Policy Appointment

Paramount Skydance Welcomes New Public Policy Chief Amidst Strategic Expansion

In a significant leadership development, Rene Augustine, who previously served as a White House attorney during the Trump presidency and held a prominent role in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, has been named Senior Vice President of Global Public Policy for Paramount Skydance. This appointment comes as David Ellison's Paramount Skydance pursues an ambitious acquisition strategy, including a potential takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Augustine's Reporting Structure and Strategic Mandate

Commencing her new role on February 17, Augustine will operate under the direct leadership of Makan Delrahim, Paramount's Chief Legal Officer. Delrahim himself joined the company in the fall, highlighting a concerted effort to bolster Paramount's legal and policy expertise. Augustine's responsibilities will encompass the development of strategic policies designed to advance Paramount Skydance's business objectives and the cultivation of crucial diplomatic relationships on a global scale.

A Look Back at Augustine's Collaboration with Delrahim

From 2019 to 2021, Augustine served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's Antitrust Division, where she was responsible for international policy. During this period, she worked alongside Delrahim, who was then the Assistant Attorney General overseeing the Antitrust Division. Their prior collaboration is expected to facilitate a seamless integration into Paramount's leadership team.

Augustine's Contributions to the Kennedy Center

Prior to her new appointment, Augustine dedicated nearly five years to advisory capacities at the Kennedy Center. Her roles included a presidential appointment to the President's Advisory Committee on the Arts and, subsequently, co-chair of the National Committee for the Performing Arts. Her tenure there involved navigating various high-profile discussions, including President Trump's past pronouncements regarding the center's future.

Defining Augustine's Role in Shaping Global Policy

As the head of public policy for Paramount Skydance, Augustine will be tasked with formulating and implementing strategic policies that align with the company's business goals. Her efforts will also focus on fostering vital diplomatic ties essential for advancing these objectives worldwide. Based in Paramount Skydance's Washington, D.C., office, Augustine will maintain regular engagement with teams in Los Angeles, New York, and other global locations.

Delrahim's Endorsement and Augustine's Qualifications

In an internal memo announcing Augustine's appointment, Delrahim expressed confidence in her abilities, citing their extensive professional history together at the Department of Justice, the Senate, and the White House. He emphasized her unique qualifications and experience in representing Paramount across a broad spectrum of policy, regulatory, and diplomatic matters.

Recent Public Policy Additions to Paramount Skydance

Augustine's hiring follows Paramount's recent recruitment of lobbyist Ted Lehman, who brings over two decades of experience from Capitol Hill and the private sector. Lehman was appointed Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Public Policy and Government Affairs, indicating a broader initiative to enhance the company's government relations capabilities.

Augustine's Extensive Antitrust and Government Experience

During her time as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the DOJ's Antitrust Division, Augustine supervised the division's international antitrust operations, as well as its competition, policy, and advocacy sections. In this capacity, she played a key role in developing international antitrust enforcement policy and represented the U.S. in engagements with foreign competition enforcers across various international forums.

Key Roles in the Trump and Bush Administrations

Augustine also held significant positions in the Trump White House, including Special Assistant to the President and Senior Associate Counsel in the White House Counsel's Office. Earlier in her career, from 2005 to 2009, she served as an Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush.

A Comprehensive Legal and Academic Background

Augustine's career further includes legislative experience as Senior Counsel to the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. She practiced law at Covington & Burling and served as a federal judicial law clerk. Additionally, she shared her expertise as an adjunct professor of law at George Mason University Law School and provided legal services to underserved communities as a staff attorney.

Augustine's Academic Achievements and Professional Credentials

Rene Augustine holds a law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law and a bachelor's degree in political science from Duke University. She has also pursued executive education programs at MIT Sloan School of Management, focusing on blockchain technologies and machine learning in business. She is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and California (inactive), and before the U.S. Supreme Cour