CNN Chairman Mark Thompson to Remain in Post as Ellison Family Takes Control of Warner Bros. Discovery
Mark Thompson will continue as chairman and editor-in-chief of CNN after the Ellison family’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, now merged into Skydance, which announced its leadership structure and affirmed editorial independence.
Mark Thompson, who has led CNN since 2023, will stay on as chairman and editor-in-chief after the Ellison family’s purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, now part of the newly formed Skydance company. In a memo to staff, Thompson said the Skydance leadership, including CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz, “believe in news alongside entertainment as a top strategic opportunity” and pledged support for CNN’s independent journalism.
The merger of Paramount and Warner, scheduled to take effect Tuesday, creates Skydance, which named its senior leadership team on Monday. Thompson will report to Ellison and Kreiz, while CBS News will remain a separate unit under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. Both networks are expected to stay independent for now, though future integration is possible after the antitrust settlement is finalized.
The deal follows a bidding war that concluded last February and prompted concerns among CNN employees about editorial independence. The Wall Street Journal reported that Ellison asked Thompson to remain, signaling stability for the news outlet. A settlement with state attorneys general requires a five-member board to oversee editorial standards for both CNN and CBS News, with appointments due within six months.
Skydance also announced its entertainment leadership, naming HBO boss Casey Bloys to oversee direct-to-consumer streaming, Paramount television chief George Cheeks to run TV operations, and film co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein to manage the combined film businesses. The company plans a town-hall meeting for employees on Tuesday, followed by a media event.