David Zaslov (Oficial company pic)
David Zaslav, the CEO and president of Warner Bros. Discovery, is now the focus of national attention after he was forced to fire CNN CEO Chris Licht. Licht lasted just 13 months on the job. He replaced the embattled Jeff Zucker, who himself was forced out after serving nine years as the CNN chief because of a scandal involving an affair he had with a subordinate.
The move came after a New York Times article cited multiple CNN staffers who were said to have told the publication about how people there were unhappy with Chris Licht. And there was also an article in the Atlantic that was devastating for both Licht and CNN.
One of Chris Licht’s biggest failures at CNN was the recent disastrous “town hall” format interview with former President Donald Trump. The network gave Trump one hour to spew his usual venom and outright lies and CNN was slammed by just about everyone for giving Trump the platform.
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“For a number of reasons things didn’t work out, and that’s unfortunate. And I take full responsibility for that,” David Zaslov told CNN staff.
“We have great confidence in this group and will fully support them until a new CEO is named,” David Zaslav said in a memo to staff. “We are in good hands, allowing us to take the time we need to run a thoughtful and thorough search for a new leader.”
“I have known Chris for many years and have enormous respect for him, personally and professionally. This job was never going to be easy, especially at a time of great disruption and transformation, and Chris poured his heart and soul into it,” David Zaslav added. “Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we had hoped – and ultimately that’s on me. I take responsibility.”
Born to a Polish and Ukrainian Jewish family in Brooklyn, 63-year-old David Zaslov is President and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, one of the world’s largest and most diverse media and entertainment companies with market leadership across all programming genres, including premium scripted television and movies, non-fiction series, international, animation, global sports and news. Mr. Zaslav spearheaded the transaction between AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery, combining the companies’ media assets, in April 2022.
Previously, David Zaslav led Discovery since 2006. And before that, he worked at NBCUniversal, where he was instrumental in developing and launching CNBC and also played a role in the creation of MSNBC. He was previously an attorney with the New York firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae, and graduated with honors from Boston University School of Law.
