Raffaele Annecchino, the former President and CEO of Paramount International, has died of acute meningitis at the age of 55. Over more than 25 years at Paramount/ViacomCBS, he rose from an early sales role in Madrid to lead the company's international operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia, playing a central part in its shift from traditional broadcasting to digital streaming.

Annecchino drove the international rollout of Paramount+, supported the global expansion of Pluto TV, and was instrumental in launching SkyShowtime, a joint venture between Paramount and Comcast. He worked closely with major partners including Sky, Canal+ and MultiChoice, and oversaw networks such as MTV, Nickelodeon, BET and Channel 5 in the UK. After leaving Paramount in 2022, he founded consultancy Blue Ocean Media Partners; colleagues including former CEO Bob Bakish paid tribute to his warmth and strategic vision.