Chris Licht was ousted as the CEO of CNN on Wednesday after a controversy-filled 13 months of tenure ended in a damning exposé that pointed to all of his failures — and he broke his silence by calling the job “an exciting but incredibly challenging assignment.”
“I learned a lot over the past 13 months,” Licht said in a statement.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have had a successful, fulfilling career and I look forward to my next chapter. I wish the team at CNN the very best, always,” he added, according to CNN Business.
Licht was handpicked by David Zaslav — the head of CNN’s corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery — last May.
He was tasked with moving the network away from the “anti-Trump” messaging that became the cornerstone of the network during his predecessor, Jeff Zucker’s, reign.
However, Licht’s tenure was plagued by drama and controversy that bled over from the old regime headed by Zucker, who was booted from the network in early 2022 for failing to disclose his relationship with a subordinate.
The nail in Licht’s coffin was a damning 15,000-word report by The Atlantic that detailed the boss’ aloof and increasingly paranoid management style as he struggled to step out of Zucker’s shadow.
In the wake of the scathing article, Licht apologized to staffers and even phoned network anchors “he’s never spoken to before” in a last-ditch effort to gain his employees’ trust and remain head honcho.
“As I read that article, I found myself thinking, CNN is not about me,” Licht said during an apologetic editorial meeting.
“I should not be in the news unless it’s taking arrows for you. Your work is what should be written about,” he added.
It proved to be too little too late.
Zaslav announced on Wednesday that Licht’s resignation was effective immediately.
“I have great respect for Chris, personally and professionally,” Zaslav said in a statement. “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.”
Three in-house executives will temporarily fill the role of CEO while CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, seeks a new chief in another attempt to resuscitate the beleaguered news channel.
Zaslav announced the “acting leadership team” will consist of talent boss Amy Entelis, editorial head Virginia Moseley, and programming chief Eric Sherling, the company said Wednesday.
The CNN veterans will work alongside CNN’s new chief operating officer, David Leavy, a longtime confidante of Zaslav’s.
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