When Jeff Zucker, the former president of CNN stepped down a few weeks ago, it created a huge furore especially among the staff, who know the major role he played in keeping the cable news network on the top, despite various challenges. Now, people familiar with the matter say that Chris Licht, who is a veteran TV news executive, will the new president at the network. The news was first reported by Puck.
David Zaslav, who is the CEO of Disney, is expected to officially name Chris Licht, after the upcoming merger with Warner Media takes place, in the following weeks. Licht is expected be named as the head of news for Warner Bros. This could be a new role that involves assuming leadership of CNN as well as other international assets. However, he is not expected to be in charge of Sports, as Zucker was.
Officially, Jeff Zucker left CNN because he had failed to disclose an affair that he was having with a colleague, Allison Gollust. Staff said that the affair was an open secret and a point to be noted is that both Jeff Zucker and the woman he was in a relationship with are divorced. Unofficially, one of Disney’s largest shareholders allegedly wanted Zucker to leave CNN.
Chris Licht has been the executive producer of Morning Joe on MSNBC as well as CBS This Morning. He is currently the lead behind the popular show “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” His contract with CBS is expected to expire in April. However, a special meeting of Disney shareholders has been scheduled for March 11 and his name is expected to be put forward by Discovery chief David Zaslav.
Chris Licht was born in Switzerland. He has more than 20 years of experience in television news. He is known to build friendly relationships with talent as well as to encourage anchors. Jeff Zucker had a similar relationship with staff at CNN and Licht is expected to do the same, which is good for the network as it emerges from the sudden drastic changes in staff as well as a new merger with Disney.
