Paramount’s new co-CEO once hired a barista he met at a cafe with no resume. His advice to Gen Z: ‘Look up and make eye contact’

Billionaire heir David Ellison has appointed Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz as co-CEO of Paramount Skydance, putting him in charge of the company's daily operations and the integration of its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Kreiz, known for taking unconventional chances, previously hired a barista he met at a cafe without a resume, appreciating his determination and work ethic.

Speaking at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business commencement last year, Kreiz advised Gen Z to "look up and make eye contact," highlighting the importance of personal interactions in a world of digital communication. His career has spanned a seven-year plan for a career in American business, studying economics and management at Tel Aviv University and earning an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management in 1993.

Kreiz's tenacity paid off when he co-founded Fox Kids Europe and later led Endemol, turning Mattel from a toy manufacturer into an entertainment company with the successful Barbie film.