David Leavy To Depart As COO Of CNN, Will Return To Parent Warner Bros. Discovery

David Leavy is departing his place as leader running officer of CNN Worldwide and can go back to dad or mum Warner Bros. Discovery.

Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN, wrote that Leavy “has decided to return to a role at Warner Bros. Discovery in the weeks ahead.”

Leavy has served as COO for the previous two years, having in the past served as leader company affairs officer for WBD.

His transfer from WBD was once introduced in June, 2023, simply earlier than Chris Licht’s tenure main CNN got here to an finish. In the intervening time, Leavy and Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley and Eric Sherling led the community, earlier than Thompson’s rent.

“David fell in love with CNN from the moment he walked in and has supported and championed our journalism and our great brand ever since,” Thompson wrote in a memo to staffers. “He’s always been a voice for change and confidence in the future.”

Thompson wrote that Leavy would “spend the next month or so ensuring a smooth transition.” Leavy wrote in a separate memo that his ultimate day could be on the finish of June.

He wrote, “When David Zaslav first called me about moving over to CNN, the initial plan was a six-month assignment, and that quickly turned into a multi-year drive to help the company pivot, transform and reposition itself for a new multiplatform future. I am so thankful for the opportunity, have learned a great deal, and hopefully made a small contribution by bringing some leadership, stability and collaboration to CNN during a challenging and disruptive period in its history.”

Thompson wrote that, with Leavy’s departure, the global business and income groups led via Phil Nelson, and the communications group, led via Emily Kuhn, will now report back to him. Sam Felix, senior VP of strategic partnerships and trade building, additionally will report back to Thompson. Variety first reported on Leavy’s transfer.