![CNN CEO Chris Licht resigns](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/107252600-16861454181686145414-29785961660-1080pnbcnews.jpg?v=1686145765&w=750&h=422&vtcrop=y)
Chris Licht is leaving CNN after heading the news network, parent company, for just over a 12 months Discovery Warner Bros announced Wednesday morning.
The corporate said it was searching for a successor. Within the meantime, executives Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling and David Leavy will lead CNN, the corporate said.
“We’ve great confidence on this group and can fully support them until a recent CEO is elected,” Warner Bros. CEO said Wednesday. one other leader. “We’re in good hands, which allows us to take the time needed to conduct a thoughtful and thorough seek for a recent leader.”
Licht’s departure got here as he faced a mutiny amongst CNN’s talent and staff. His tenure, which actually began when he eliminated costly streaming service CNN+, was riddled with programming errors and low rankings.
“I even have known Chris for a few years and I even have great respect for him, each personally and professionally. This work has never been easy, especially in times of great disruption and transformation, and Chris has put all his heart and soul into it,” Zaslav said in his memo. “Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out the way in which we expected – and ultimately it’s my fault. I take responsibility.”
Chris Licht, President and CEO of CNN Worldwide.
Courtesy: CNN
Licht has drawn fierce criticism in recent weeks after the network hosted Donald Trump’s town hall, which was stuffed with dozens of cheering ex-president fans. While the event attracted 3.3 million viewers, CNN’s viewership declined sharply thereafter. Two days after City Hall, CNN’s highest viewership entered below right-wing outlet Newsmax, a much smaller chain.
But that was Licht’s unflattering 15,000-word profile Atlantic – entitled “Contained in the Meltdown at CNN” – which could have sealed his fate. On Monday morning, he apologized to employees, but top management at CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, including CEO David Zaslav, weren’t comfortable with the article and its aftermath.
The move got here shortly after Leavy, a key Zaslav ally, was appointed because the network’s recent chief operating officer. Leavy was tasked with taking on marketing, public relations, promoting sales, facilities, and other logistics.
This move was intended to permit Licht to focus more on programming. Licht helped launch MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” as an executive producer in 2007 and later became the manager producer and showrunner of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on CBS.
Read Zaslav’s note to staff:
All,
This morning we announce that Chris Licht can be leaving CNN and we are going to conduct an in depth seek for a recent leader, each internally and externally. I wanted you to listen to these messages directly from me because they affect you and your teams.
I even have known Chris for a few years and have great respect for him, each personally and professionally. This job was never meant to be easy, especially in times of great disruption and transformation, and Chris put all his heart and soul into it. He has a deep love for journalism and the business, which has been evident throughout his tenure. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out as we might have liked – and ultimately it’s my fault. I take responsibility. Useless to say, we appreciate Chris’ efforts and dedication and want him all one of the best.
We’ve implemented a solid transition plan with the establishment of a working leadership team of experienced development managers… Amy EntelisEVP, talent and content development, Virginia MoseleyEVP, editorial office and Eric SherlingEVP, US programming, together with David Leavi, COO, on the industrial side. We’ve great confidence on this group and can fully support them until a recent CEO is elected. We’re in good hands, which allows us to devote time to a thoughtful and thorough seek for a recent leader. I realize such changes will be stressful and I appreciate your continued patience throughout the method.
You have heard me say it again and again: CNN has the best journalists on this planet… we’re deeply committed to supporting them and the critical work that CNN does each day. We’d like to repair it – and we are going to!
David
Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the parent company of MSNBC and CNBC.