Former New York Times CEO Mark Thompson Named Chairman and CEO of CNN
Former New York Times Company CEO Mark Thompson has been appointed as the new chairman and CEO of CNN. He will succeed Chris Licht, who left the network in June. Thompson’s appointment will be effective from October 9th.
Thompson, known for his successful tenure at The New York Times, where he helped grow the digital subscriber base and oversaw innovations such as the NYT Cooking subscription-based recipe service and the news-based podcast “The Daily,” is seen as an experienced leader in the media industry.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, in a memo to CNN employees, expressed confidence in Thompson’s ability to lead CNN at this crucial time. CNN has been facing challenges in ratings and internal stability, and Thompson’s extensive experience in journalism and media management is expected to help address these issues.
Thompson previously managed the BBC as its director general and has served on the boards of various media organizations. He will be taking charge of CNN at a time when the cable news network is undergoing significant changes and seeking to regain its competitive edge in the ratings race against rivals like Fox News and MSNBC.
Thompson’s appointment is seen as a strategic move by Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN, to bring in an experienced and well-respected media executive to lead the network’s efforts to revitalize its programming and improve its performance.
