CNN on Wednesday removed hated CEO Chris Licht – but the struggling cable network stays a “house on fire” with declining rankings and no apparent successor.
Corporate overlord David Zaslav broke the news of Licht’s departure to a bewildered staff and installed a troika of veterans – editorial chief Virginia Moseley, head of programming Eric Sherling and head of talent Amy Entelis – to clean up the mess of his 13-month tenure.
“Everyone breathed a sigh of relief today,” the former CNN producer told The Post. “While individuals are completely satisfied that Licht is gone, there is still a way of fear that the turmoil will proceed.”
The general impression at CNN’s Recent York headquarters in Hudson Yards is that CNN is a “burning house,” the source added, noting that the three-headed monster is a “patch” for the situation, “not a long-term solution.”
Moseley’s ascension was particularly unsettling to many employees due to his “short” and “glacial” bedside manner, multiple sources said.
![Chris Licht](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012305994.jpg?w=1024)
“She’s a bully,” said one former associate. “She has no interpersonal skills. She is tough and has demanded everyone come to work after the pandemic.”
“She’s not warm and fluffy,” says one other source.
Moseley, a Harvard graduate who worked at CNN for a decade, was promoted by Licht last 12 months to executive vice chairman of corporate affairs.
“She’s a bit like Anna Wintour,” said a 3rd source who worked closely with Moseley, comparing her to the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine’s The Devil Wears Prada.
![Virginia Moseley](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012279952-2.jpg?w=1024)
“It may be harsh and demeaning,” the source said. “She’s not aggressive, but she’ll let you know when you’re awful. If she doesn’t like the final result of something, as an alternative of working with colleagues, she is going to go after colleagues.”
Moseley, 50, spent 10 years at CBS News and worked at ABC News before joining CNN in 2012 to manage the CNN White House, Department of Homeland Security and Justice and other political reporting teams.
Some staff members praised Moseley, saying she was well-liked for her TV talent and that she was an completed journalist who was extremely intelligent and “shrewd” with a knowledge of Washington politics.
She is married to Tom Nides, who became the US ambassador to Israel in 2021, which raised the specter of conflict of interest during his appointment.
Sherling, 49, is more likeable online, a source said, but is too “socially awkward” for a public role.
![Eric Sherling](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012302351-1.jpg?w=1024)
“Eric is an important cable programmer,” said a former co-worker. “It’s okay, but not spectacular. He isn’t a pacesetter, he is not a visionary, he is not a strategist.”
“I’m sure the guy has friends,” repeated a second source who worked with Sherling. “He has zero personality and nil interpersonal skills and that is the problem.”
Until last month, he held the interim role of CNN Worldwide’s vice chairman of American programming.
Sherling has been with CNN for nearly 20 years, with a two-year break from ABC, and “oversees all live programming for CNN US in Recent York, Washington and Atlanta.” his biographies.
Meanwhile, Entelis is the most talented and most respected of the three, according to sources.
Since leaving ABC News to join cable in 2012, she has recruited and developed many CNN talents – including presenters like Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper and John Berman.
Entelis also helped launch Robyn Roberts’ profession at ABC News.
“He’s calming down the talent and he’s an important producer,” a source told CNN to The Post. “I believe she’s universally liked, but it’s unclear if Amy will stay [at the network]”.
Nevertheless, a source cited Entelis’s age of 72 as a possible factor that might need made her unsuitable for the position.
![Amy Entelis](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012302263.jpg?w=1024)
“Amy Entelis is respected, but is there a dynamo at this point?” asked one former exec associate.
“I do not see any of them getting promoted [to Licht’s role] but I also don’t see anyone getting this job from the outside,” the source said, noting that there aren’t many executives who could possibly be successful in the role.
CNN didn’t comment.
Zaslav said all three will work along with his loyal lieutenant David Leavy, who was named CNN’s chief operating officer last week, while Warner Bros. Discovery casts a large net on Licht’s successor.
“Now we have great confidence in this group and can fully support them until a recent CEO is elected,” he said. “We’re in good hands, which allows us to spend time on a thoughtful and thorough seek for a recent leader.”
Zaslav said he plans the seek for a CEO to take months.
![David Zaslaw](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012307098-1.jpg?w=1024)
Licht’s dramatic demise got here lower than per week after a scathing magazine profile that portrayed him as thin, aloof and paranoid about negative media coverage, in addition to resentful of the staff’s lingering loyalty to his predecessor, Jeff Zucker.
“The issue with Chris was that all of it comes down to ego. He thought he was smarter than everyone and didn’t need anyone’s help. He wasn’t interested in what anyone had to say,” said a knowledgeable source.
“Every little thing he touched exploded,” added the media veteran, who cited several programming setbacks, most notably the decision to relaunch and rename the morning show under Don Lemon, Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow – only to fire Lemon and produce Collins to prime time – months later.
![Chris Licht](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000008299782.jpg?w=1024)
Zaslav took some of the blame for hiring Licht, whom he tasked with shifting CNN to more centrist coverage after years of skirmishes with Republicans, especially with President Donald Trump.
“Unfortunately, things didn’t end up the way we expected – and ultimately it’s my fault,” Zaslav told shocked staff during a morning editorial interview on Wednesday.
Sources say it’s vital that Zaslav doesn’t repeat the same mistake as the major presidential election looms, putting pressure on CNN to do the right thing and reverse their viewership, which fell 25% during prime time in May vs. with last 12 months.
“They need to gather strength before the election,” said a former CNN worker.
“Who sets the direction?” asked one other source with knowledge of the three directors. “The firing of Chris Licht is not going to change CNN’s problems. Who’s leading the charge now?