And what was supposed to be Licht’s signature programming move - a new morning show anchored by Lemon, Poppy Harlow and White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins - imploded in a matter of months as Lemon committed a series of on-air gaffs that inflamed tensions among its anchors, obliterating any possibility of all-important on-air chemistry. More painful layoffs followed, including the gutting of CNN’s well-regarded documentary unit, headed by Entelis. Andrew Cuomo.ĭays into his new job, Licht was forced to shutter long-gestating streaming service CNN+ only weeks after an ill-advised launch of the $300 million service hundreds of people hired for the platform were let go. At that point, the network was already reeling from the ouster of primetime anchor Chris Cuomo after a series of embarrassing revelations about Cuomo’s efforts to quash reporting about inappropriate behavior of his older brother, former New York Gov. And his defenestration prompted unusually public condemnations from several anchors, including Don Lemon and Alisyn Camerota. Beloved by the network’s anchors, even if he did have his detractors, Zucker rode the Donald Trump wave to record profits and ratings. Meanwhile, popular CNN chief Jeff Zucker was ousted for carrying on an intimate relationship with his longtime number two, Allison Gollust. had been through another earlier merger with AT&T. Discovery had just acquired CNN-parent Warner Bros., two years after Warner Bros. Licht’s tenure began during a tumultuous time at CNN. programming, and Leavy as CNN’s interim leadership team. Zaslav announced Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and content development, Virginia Moseley, executive vice president of editorial, and Eric Sherling, executive vice president of U.S. Kris Coratti Kelly and Matt Dornic – the communications executives who gave Licht the green light to participate in the profile (Dronic was a featured character in the story) – also will depart, as will Licht’s chief of staff, Devan Cayea. If the move was meant to marginalize Licht, the Atlantic profile forced a more drastic decision. It’s unclear who will take over, but days before the publication of writer Tim Alberta’s Atlantic profile - which was headlined “Inside the Meltdown at CNN” - Zaslav appointed David Leavy, his longtime communications chief, as chief operating officer of CNN, stripping Licht of operational, financial and marketing purviews, ostensibly so that he could focus his oversight on editorial. While we know we have work to do as we look to identify a new leader, we have absolute confidence in the team we have in place and will continue to fight for CNN and its world-class journalism.” “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. Discovery, in a statement announcing Licht’s departure. “I have great respect for Chris, personally and professionally,” said David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. The final straw of Licht’s tumultuous and destabilizing tenure atop the news organization was a 15,000-word profile in The Atlantic, published Friday, that contained numerous embarrassing anecdotes and painted a picture of an arrogant leader who isolated himself from the network’s talent and producers as he made a series of head-scratching programming moves that seemed to undermine them. Chris Licht is out as chief executive officer of CNN, the network announced Wednesday morning.
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