Chris Licht is resigning as CEO of CNN, it was announced Wednesday morning, after a scathing magazine profile alienated staffers and key senior figures at the network who called for his head.
Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s corporate parent, announced Licht’s resignation effective immediately.
His departure comes a little more than a year after he took over for Jeff Zucker, the beloved former network boss who was forced to quit after revelations of a relationship with a subordinate.
Licht accused Zucker of undermining his leadership by planting negative stories about the news operation.
“I have great respect for Chris, personally and professionally,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said in a statement.
“The job of leading CNN was never going to be easy, especially at a time of huge disruption and transformation, and he has poured his heart and soul into it.”
Licht is telling outraged supporters, “I hope they get the leader they deserve,” according to a source.
The company announced that Licht will be replaced in the interim by a group “comprising seasoned programming leaders” such as Amy Entelis, the executive vice president of talent and content development; Virginia Moseley, executive vice president of editorial; and Eric Sherling, who heads US-based programming.
Why did Chris Licht step down as CEO from CNN?
Chris Licht stepped down as CEO of CNN Wednesday morning, after staffers and senior figures at the networks called for his head following a scathing magazine profile.
CNN staffers were enraged by Licht’s criticism of the network’s COVID-19 coverage.
Licht’s exit from CNN comes after former CEO Jeff Zucker’s departure from the network over a year ago. Zucker was forced to leave over a relationship with a co-worker.
Licht has accused Zucker of undermining his leadership and spreading negative stories about the news operation.
CNN announced that Licht will be replaced by a group “comprising seasoned programming leaders” including Amy Entelis, the executive vice president of talent and content development.
Others were upset with Licht’s decision to stage a live town hall event with Donald Trump.
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David Leavy, the longtime trusted aide to Zaslav who was recently installed as chief operating officer, will head the commercial side, according to Warner Bros. Discovery.
Zaslav addressed CNN staffers during a morning editorial meeting Wednesday.
“I wanted you to hear this news directly from me as it impacts you and your teams,” Zaslav told CNN staffers.
“I met with Chris and he will be leaving CNN,” Zaslav said.
“We’re in the process of conducting a wide search, internally and externally, for a new leader.”
Zaslav praised Licht for an “amazing career.”
He said Licht “poured his heart and soul into this job” but “for a number of reasons, it didn’t work out.”
“Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we had hoped — and ultimately that’s on me,” Zaslav told CNN personnel.
“I take full responsibility,” Zaslav said, adding: “We wish him every success and all the best.”
Several of Licht’s top lieutenant’s were also shown the door, including his chief of staff Devan Cayea, CNN communications chief Kris Coratti and PR rep Matt Dornic. Chris Marlin, the network’s business chief, also is expected to exit, according to the Daily Beast.
Licht spent the past 48 hours desperately trying to win the support of staffers who were upset by the Atlantic profile that depicted him as thin-skinned, aloof, and paranoid about negative media coverage as well as resentful of lingering staff loyalty to his predecessor, Zucker.
CNN staffers were incensed by Licht’s criticism of the network’s coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Many were also enraged by Licht’s decision last month to stage a live town hall event with former President Donald Trump, during which his supporters clapped and cheered as the likely GOP nominee clashed with moderator Kaitlan Collins.
On Monday, Licht apologized to staffers during an editorial call. The next day, he was hitting the phones of network anchors “he’s never spoken to before,” The Post was the first to report.
“He has been calling anchors who have never spoken to him before,” said a source. “He needs to win the room but the [Atlantic] piece shortened his window of time to do that.”
Staffers had anticipated that Zaslav would eventually show Licht the door.
Observers thought the writing was on the wall for Licht after Zaslav tapped Leavy as the new COO last week.
The initial plan was for Leavy to assume his responsibilities over CNN’s commercial operations later this month, but the timeline was expedited due to the public relations fallout from the Atlantic article.
Licht’s mea culpa was apparently too little, too late to save his job.
“I should not be in the news,” Licht told alienated staffers during Monday’s editorial call.
“I know these past few days have been very hard for this group,” the former executive producer for Stephen Colbert added.
“I fully recognize that this news cycle and my role in it overshadowed the incredible week of reporting that we just had, and distracted from the work of every single journalist in this org,” Licht told staffers.
“And for that, I am sorry.”
“As I read that article, I found myself thinking, CNN is not about me,” Licht continued.
Additional reporting by Alexandra Steigrad