Dion Vlachos | Source: Paramount Consumer Products

Dion Vlachos, executive vice president at Paramount Consumer Products (formerly ViacomCBS), talks about the Paramount+ streaming service and promoting a diverse workplace in the Toy Book’s annual State of the Industry Q&A

The Toy Book: In what ways has the Paramount+ streaming platform opened up licensing opportunities for properties that aren’t necessarily new, but have become relevant again? 

Dion Vlachos: Paramount+ has opened up tremendous opportunities across distribution, licensing, and content. One of the most exciting things for us in consumer products is how Paramount+ has allowed us to expand many of our beloved universes with new content that reaches new audiences, explores new themes, and shines a spotlight on previously unexplored characters and storylines in our franchises. A great example of this is expanding the SpongeBob SquarePants universe with two new series that premiered exclusively on Paramount+ last year. With Kamp Koral, audiences get to see the previously untold stories about SpongeBob and his friends’ younger years at summer camp, while The Patrick Star Show features SpongeBob’s best friend, Patrick, in a whole new way as he stars in his own talk show and introduces fans to his family. For our licensing partners, these series bring a fresh perspective to this franchise with new imagery, characters, and themes to celebrate with products and new play patterns to explore.

TB: In what ways is Paramount promoting diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace? What are your company’s D&I goals in 2022? 

DV: Diversity and inclusion are integral parts of our DNA at Paramount. In consumer products, we strive to create products that appeal to all audiences and that authentically reflect their imaginations, ideas, perspectives, and experiences. We established our Four Pillar Diversity & Inclusion Plan, focusing on our People & Culture, Partners, Products, and Industry, with the ultimate objective to support lasting and meaningful transformation. We have also built a foundation that champions a strong culture of inclusion and supports employees in bringing their authentic selves to work, helping us attract, develop, and retain the talented people who will drive our company forward. 

In 2021, we commissioned a study titled “More Than Dolls,” which underscored the importance of authentic representation and the powerful role that consumer products play in diversity and inclusion. In 2022, we look to further build on this work to ensure authentic representation with the products that we produce across all our brands and hope to continue to work with the broader licensing community to help drive impactful, industry-wide change.


A version of this article was originally published in the February 2022 edition of the Toy Book. The article went to print shortly prior to ViacomCBS’ recent renaming to Paramount. Click here to read the full issue!

About the author

Maddie Michalik

Maddie Michalik

Maddie Michalik was the Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book from 2020-2022. She was also a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider.

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