Mark Thompson To Take Over As CNN’s Head After Chris Licht Fired

Mark Thompson To Take Over As CNN’s Head After Chris Licht Fired

Warner Bros Discovery, the Parent company of the Cable News Network (CNN) has named Mark Thompson as the new head of the media giant on Wednesday.

Mr. Thompson who had chaired the BBC from 2004 to 2012 and New York Times from 2012 to 2020, was announced as the new CEO by David Zaslav, head of Warner Bros Discovery who called him a “true innovator” due to his wealth of experience and track record, leading the BBC and New York Times to grater height.

Join our WhatsApp Channel

He replaces Chris Licht, the former CEO who took over from long-time Chairman Jeff Zucker who was fired in 2022.

“There isn’t a more experienced, respected or capable executive in the news business today than Mark, and we are thrilled to have him join our team and lead CNN Worldwide into the future,” David Zaslav said. Mr. Thompson’s appointment comes at a pivotal point when the media giant’s ratings have dropped and the company’s finances have suffered losses, earning 800 million Dollar in 2022, a sharp drop from the 1.08 billion fortune the company got in 2020.

Confirming his appointment, Mr. Thompson said “couldn’t be more excited about the chance to join CNN after years of watching it and competing against it with a mixture of admiration and envy.”

“The world needs accurate trustworthy news now more than ever and we’ve never had more ways of meeting that need at home and abroad,” he said.

“Where others see disruption, I see opportunity. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get down to work with my new colleagues to build a successful future for CNN,” he added.

Mr. Thompson will start his new job in October, replacing the interim team that was set up by the company after Mr. Licht was sacked in June.

CNN is an international media giant that was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as the first 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by the Manhattan-based media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). It is based in Atlanta Georgia and has a staff of over 4,000.

John Adoyi, PBA Journalism Mentee
+ posts

Featured Stories

Latest from News

Airports Authority Defends New Cashless System

Nigeria’s airport authority on Tuesday defended its move to enforce electronic payments nationwide, saying the policy is designed to plug revenue leakages and improve accountability amid increased scrutiny of government agencies’ finances. The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria,

Oyedele to Replace Uzoka-Anite as Finance State Minister

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated tax expert Taiwo Oyedele as minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Uzoka-Anite, in a cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday. Uzoka-Anite has been redeployed to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as minister of state,
Iphone 15: All You Need To Know
Previous Story

iphone 15: All You Need To Know

Timelines Of Recent Coups Across Africa
Next Story

Timelines Of Recent Coups Across Africa

Don't Miss

Naira Ends Week With N59.71 Gain At Official Market

Bureaux De Change Operators Urge CBN To Lower Exchange Rate

The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON)

WSICE 2022: Dele Farotimi, Bimbo Manuel, Ier Jonathan, Others To Lead Conversation On ‘Citizenship & Nation Building’

Speakers in the Advocacy session of the 2022 edition of