CNN executives are also out hours after CEO Chris Licht is fired
Heather Hamilton
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Just hours after CNN fired CEO Chris Licht, two top CNN communications executives also left the cable news network.
CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy confirmed Licht’s departure on Wednesday morning following a swirling of reports that suggested he had stepped down. Just over three hours later, Darcy said he had also learned leaders of the network’s communications department would also be leaving.
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“The top two leaders of CNN’s communications department, Kris Coratti Kelly and Matt Dornic, as well as Licht’s chief of staff, Devan Cayea, will also depart the company, I’m told,” Darcy tweeted.
The departures come as David Zaslav, the president and CEO of CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, acknowledged the increased criticism the network had faced over staffing and programming decisions in recent months, saying Licht’s job was “never going to be easy.”
“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,” he added. “While we know we have work to do as we look to identify a new leader, we have absolute confidence in the team we have in place and will continue to fight for CNN and its world-class journalism.”
Zaslav told CNN employees the search for a new CEO was underway and that Licht’s role would be filled by an interim team of three network executives, including Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and content development; Virginia Moseley, executive vice president of editorial; and Eric Sherling, executive vice president of U.S. programming, according to the network.
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“We have great confidence in this group and will fully support them until a new CEO is named,” Zaslav said. “We are in good hands, allowing us to take the time we need to run a thoughtful and thorough search for a new leader.”
In May 2022, Licht replaced former CNN CEO Jeff Zucker, who was ousted from the network after it surfaced that he engaged in a romantic relationship with another CNN executive.