CNN’s Chris Licht loses control of PR team
CNN CEO Chris Licht’s position at the network has been called into question following a damaging magazine profile. The public relations team at CNN will now report to newly installed COO David Leavy, according to Semafor. The move is seen as a worrying sign for Licht, whose chaotic first year at the helm of ratings-challenged CNN was chronicled in a lengthy piece published in The Atlantic. He was depicted as a thin-skinned, aloof executive who is isolated from employees who no longer trust his leadership. Licht has acknowledged the fallout from the article and sought to reassure his charges that he is sorry. CNN insiders have criticized Licht’s handling of the situation, with some calling for him to be fired.
FAQs
What is the magazine profile about?
The article in The Atlantic portrays Licht as a thin-skinned, aloof executive who is isolated from employees who no longer trust his leadership.
Who will CNN’s PR team be reporting to now?
The PR team at CNN will now be reporting to David Leavy, the newly installed chief operating officer who was put in place recently by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
Is Licht still in charge at CNN?
Yes, Licht is still in charge at CNN, but his position has been called into question following the magazine profile.
CNN’s PR team fails to be managed by Chris Licht.
CNN’s public relations department will no longer report to CEO Chris Licht following an explosive magazine profile that painted him as a distant and unapproachable leader. The PR team will instead report to newly appointed Chief Operating Officer David Leavy, who was recently hired by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. However, sources say that the team will still ultimately report to Licht through Leavy, who will supervise promotions in his new role. Leavy’s appointment was seen as a cause of concern for Licht, whose performance during his first year at the helm of CNN was heavily criticized in a recent Atlantic piece. Many employees lost faith in Licht’s leadership following his scathing comments about CNN’s COVID-19 coverage under his predecessor Jeff Zucker. Licht has been frantically working to contain the fallout from the article, with many staffers calling for his removal. In a recent editorial call, he expressed remorse for the situation and promised to win back the trust of those alienated by his actions.