In a stunning turn of events, Chris Licht, the visionary CEO of CNN, bid farewell to the media powerhouse after only 16 months at the helm. The news broke following Licht’s meeting with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on Tuesday, and the departure was announced on Wednesday. Jeff Zucker, the former cable news chief, is set to step down in February 2022, and a three-person leadership team, including longtime CNN executive Amy Entelis, will take over.
Zaslav expressed regret, taking the blame for the situation, saying, “Things didn’t work out for a number of reasons.” CNN is now conducting an extensive search for a new leader, and Zaslav warned that it might take a while.
Licht faced challenges during his tenure. CNN’s streaming service launch, which occurred shortly after he assumed the CEO role, failed after just one month, attracting fewer than 10,000 daily customers. Not only did CNN’s primetime shows struggle in the ratings, but Licht also faced criticism from his own staff.
Under Licht’s leadership, notable members of staff, including journalist Brian Stelter and host Don Lemon, were let go. The tipping point came with CNN’s May town hall featuring former President Donald Trump, which drew backlash from the left for providing Trump a platform. Prominent Democrats and media figures, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Joe Scarborough, expressed outrage over CNN’s decision.
Last week, The Atlantic published a scathing 15,000-word biography titled “Inside the Meltdown at CNN,” which reportedly angered Warner Bros. Discovery officials.
Zaslav praised Licht in a press release, acknowledging the challenges of leading CNN during a period of significant change. He emphasized the ongoing search for a new leader while expressing confidence in the current staff and their dedication to preserving CNN’s world-class journalism.