CNN has hired former New York Times and BBC CEO Mark Thompson as its latest lead executive, and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has high hopes for the new hire.
While appearing at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference Wednesday, Zaslav called Thompson a “superb executive” and added that his focus will be on securing the future of CNN.
“I can’t wait to see what Mark and that team are going to do because it is it is an extraordinary asset for us,” Zaslav said. “It’s the leading news organization in the world and I think Mark is just the right guy at the right time.”
Thompson joins the network at a tumultuous time. Former CEO Chris Licht departed the network earlier this summer after a disastrous profile in The Atlantic. CNN has seen advertising revenues and ratings drop dramatically since Licht’s hiring last year.
Thompson led the BBC from 2004 to 2012 before ultimately ascending to the CEO role at The New York Times. He departed the venerable outlet in 2020. Earlier this year, Thompson was Knighted by King Charles III for his services to British media.
