Mumbai: ViacomCBS Inc, the parent company of Hollywood-based Paramount Pictures, is expected to name Brian Robbins as next chairman and chief executive officer of the film studio. Currently serving as ViacomCBS' president of kid and family entertainment, Robbins will succeed Jim Gianopulos, who has run the company since 2017, reported The Wall Street Journal.

In addition to leading the studio, Robbins will reportedly retain his roles at Nickelodeon and Paramount+ streaming service.

The move comes as ViacomCBS is bolstering its presence in online streaming against the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, etc. Paramount+ currently has 42 million subscribers and aims to have a subscriber base of 65-75 million by 2024.  According to media reports, Gianopulos will stay aboard to assist with the transition of the leadership team.

Robbins took the reigns of Paramount's kids channel Nickelodeon as president in 2018. Prior to that, he served as president of Paramount Players, a production division of the studio that develops, produces and markets feature films from original source material and in collaboration with Viacom flagship brands Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, and BET.

Paramount is likely to announce the change soon.