As the media landscape stands on the brink of a massive transformation, incoming media giant Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery has officially announced the formation of its CEO Leadership Team. The high-profile roster includes two of the industry’s most influential news executives: CNN Worldwide Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Mark Thompson and CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss.
The announcement, made on Monday, comes just ahead of the anticipated merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, which is expected to officially close on Tuesday, October 6. Once the multibillion-dollar transaction is finalized, both Thompson and Weiss will join Skydance’s exclusive CEO News Executive Leadership Team. They will report directly to David Ellison, who will serve as chairman and chief executive officer, and Ynon Kreiz, who steps into the role of co-chief executive officer.
For weeks, speculation had swirled across the media industry regarding the future of CNN’s leadership under the incoming ownership. However, signals in the days leading up to the announcement strongly indicated that Thompson would remain at the helm. Recent reports highlighted that Thompson had met directly with Ellison to discuss his prospective role, ultimately receiving a personal request from the incoming chief executive to continue leading the prominent news organization.
Following the meeting, Thompson shared the news with CNN staffers in an internal memo, offering insights into his discussions with his new bosses and his perspective on the transition. According to CNN’s Brian Stelter, Thompson expressed confidence in the leadership’s commitment to journalistic standards.
"I have real confidence that they both understand and will fully support the principle and practice of the kind of independent news that CNN has always stood for," Thompson wrote to his newsroom colleagues.
Throughout the discussions, Thompson reportedly sought and secured firm assurances that CNN would preserve its editorial independence once integrated into the newly formed corporate structure. Satisfied with these commitments, he informed staffers that he would continue in his role as an independent editor-in-chief, a position he has held while steering the network through a rapidly evolving digital and broadcast environment.
While the leadership structure at the top is coming into sharper focus, broader operational questions remain. It is still unclear how CNN and CBS News will function day-to-day once they operate as corporate siblings under the same umbrella. Furthermore, industry observers are closely watching how the editorial independence board—agreed to as part of Paramount’s legal settlement with state attorneys general—will coordinate and co-exist with the two distinct news units.
Thompson touched upon these lingering organizational questions in his memo to staff, acknowledging that specific operational details have yet to be fully finalized. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the incoming leadership team shares a unified vision regarding the value of journalism within the broader corporate strategy, viewing credible news alongside entertainment as a top strategic opportunity for the newly combined company.
Beyond the news division, Skydance unveiled a broad lineup of content and creative executives who will form the core of the new company’s leadership structure. Among the prominent appointments are several seasoned industry veterans taking on pivotal cross-platform responsibilities.
Casey Bloys has been appointed as co-chair and chief content officer for Skydance DTC, overseeing direct-to-consumer content strategies. George Cheeks has been named co-chair and chief content officer for Skydance TV, where he will manage television content development and production. Meanwhile, JB Perrette takes on a dual role, stepping in as co-chair and chief business officer for Skydance TV, as well as co-chair and chief business officer for Skydance DTC, bridging traditional television operations with digital streaming initiatives.
On the cinematic and theatrical side of the enterprise, Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein have been named co-chairs of the Skydance Motion Picture Group, where they will oversee the company’s major film slates and studio partnerships. Additionally, the creative leadership for DC Studios remains firmly anchored with James Gunn and Peter Safran, who have been named co-chairmen to guide the interconnected superhero cinematic universe.
The executive suite responsibilities have been carefully delineated to leverage the distinct strengths of the top executives. David Ellison will concentrate heavily on Skydance’s long-term corporate strategy, overarching creative vision, and future direction. His portfolio will include managing critical talent relationships, forging strategic industry partnerships, overseeing advanced technology initiatives, and directing capital allocation for the massive enterprise.
Ynon Kreiz, serving alongside Ellison as co-chief executive officer, will focus his efforts on the day-to-day management, operational efficiency, and seamless integration of the newly combined businesses. To further strengthen the executive ranks, the company announced that Andy Gordon will assume the role of president of Skydance. In this capacity, Gordon will actively advance the company’s strategic priorities across all of its diverse operational verticals.
As part of the corporate governance structure, Ellison, Kreiz, and Gordon will all sit on the newly constituted board of directors, with Ellison taking the seat as chairman. With the formal closing date of the merger fast approaching, the leadership team is poised to take control of one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, setting the stage for a new era in entertainment and journalism.
