With Zucker Out A New Trio Steps In To Takes His Place

In just a few hours of CNN chief Jeff Zucker announcing his resignation from the network, Jason Kilar, the CEO of Warner Media, officially named three of its executives to serve as “co-heads” while the network figured things out in the wake of Zucker’s absence.

Kilar issued a memo out to staffed, of which a copy was procured and published by Mediaite:

Team News and Sports –

We are fortunate to have three senior leaders within the News organization who have agreed to serve as interim co-heads for CNN beginning today through what you should anticipate will be through the close of the pending transaction with Discovery. These leaders are Michael Bass, Amy Entelis and Ken Jautz.

I have full confidence that Michael, Amy and Ken, as interim heads for News, will provide the leadership this organization needs during this time of transition.

Lenny Daniels will continue to serve as President and lead Turner Sports & Bleacher Report.

Patrick Crumb will continue as President and head of the regional sports networks.

You will hear more from Michael, Amy, Ken, Lenny, and Patrick in the coming days but I wanted you to be aware of these decisions that have been made.

Jason

As read in Kilar’s memo, Michael Bass, Amy Entelis, and Ken Jauntz are slated to take the role of these “co-heads” while currently ongoing investigations continued and the network takes time to look for a new, proper, leader to take over the vacuum left by Zucker.

Reportedly, CNN staffers, along with many others, were “stunned” in the wake of Zucker formally stating his resignation this past Wednesday, stating that he had outright failed to disclose an entirely consensual relationship with a colleague when he should have.

“As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years,” Zucker stated to employees in a memo. “I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today,” the statement from Zucker read.

The reports that cropped up in the wake of the release indicated that the colleague mentioned in the post– Allison Gollust, CNN’s chief marketing officer — sported extremely close ties with disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D). Reportedly, she is staying on at CNN.

“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time,” stated Gollust in a release this past Wednesday. “I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.”

Zucker, who was previously employed by NBC, took control of CNN back in 2013, and Gollust was reportedly a member of his original leadership team from the start.

 

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