Chris Licht, the beleaguered chairman of CNN, is stepping down.
The company announced his departure Wednesday at the news network’s daily editorial meeting. It marks a rapid and spectacular fall for the executive leading the influential cable news channel.
Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav called into the meeting shortly after informing Licht of the decision.
Zaslav told CNN staffers Wednesday morning that Licht’s job was “never going to be easy” and said he wished him well.
“For a number of reasons things didn’t work out and that’s unfortunate,” Zaslav said, according to CNN. “It’s really unfortunate. And ultimately that’s on me. And I take full responsibility for that.”
He told CNN employees the company would be “conducting a wide search” internally and externally for the network’s new chief, a process expected to “take a while.”
Licht has been under fire since last week, when a lengthy Atlantic magazine piece outraged top executives in the company along with the rank and file.
Licht expressed regret Monday to staffers about the Atlantic profile by journalist Tim Alberta, in which Licht disparaged CNN coverage under his popular predecessor Jeff Zucker. The story also portrayed Licht as an isolated leader primarily concerned with Zaslav’s mandate that the network be more hospitable to Republicans and address his perceived need to restore trust with viewers.
Amy Entelis, a veteran TV news executive most recently in charge of the network’s long-form content, is stepping up to oversee the operation, according to people familiar with the plan.
Entelis will be part of a transition team along with Virginia Moseley, executive vice president in charge of the network’s news operation; Eric Sherling, executive vice president of programming; and David Leavy, who was named chief executive last week.
Many insiders took Leavy’s appointment as a sign that Licht’s days were numbered.
His departure comes after a tumultuous period for CNN that has been marked by cost-cutting pressures, programming missteps and declining audiences.
His ouster is the latest blow to Zaslav, who has confronted a raft of controversies since taking over as the big boss overseeing CNN, Warner Bros. film and TV studios and HBO.
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(Times staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.)
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