CNN's Chris Licht is out after a year of crisis — these 14 top execs are charged with carrying the network forward while Warner Bros. Discovery searches for its new CEO

Adam Cohn, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, CNN Worldwide

Cohn, who joined CNN in 2008, was named to the top finance position in 2022 after predecessor Neal Chugani left, seven months into the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Cohn is in charge of the financial underpinning of the huge global CNN business, including CNN International and CNN Digital as well as CNN en Español.

He was formerly the SVP, head of finance for all the streaming operations of the parent company, and was part of the Turner team that in 2010 acquired rights to NCAA March Madness and the NBA. Cohn was previously at JPMorgan. 

Johnita P. Due, EVP, Integrity and Inclusion, CNN Worldwide

Amy Entelis, EVP, Talent & Content Development, CNN Worldwide

Ramon Escobar, SVP Talent Recruitment & Development, CNN Worldwide

Escobar is in charge of all on- and off-air hires at CNN's TV networks, and he's the guy who's tasked with developing the careers of anchors, correspondents, contributors, and producers. He works closely with colleague Amy Entelis; both had previous stints with Sucherman Consulting Group.

Escobar is based in New York and joined CNN in 2012 from Telemundo. 

Sam Feist, SVP & Bureau Chief, CNN Washington

Feist has one of the biggest jobs inside the network — keeping ahead of the always-heavy politics news cycle for CNN and its array of shows including "Inside Politics," now hosted by Dana Bash. Feist's been in the role since 2011 and has covered all the debates, inaugurations, town halls, and special event programming that come with being a key player in the nation's capital. 

Feist has spent 32 years at CNN and has been the executive producer of countless political shows. He's a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, The Washington Economic Club, and the Bar of the District of Columbia.

Ken Jautz, EVP, CNN, CNN Worldwide

In the mid-90s, Jautz was busy pushing CNN into lanes such as business and helping launch financial network CNNfn, which later shuttered, and CNN Money. More recently, he has been in charge of HLN and was one of a trio of executives in charge of the network after the departure of CNN CEO Jeff Zucker.

Jautz also oversees business affairs and Newsource for affiliates. He joined Turner Broadcasting, Europe in 1995 as a development executive, and moved to CNN in 2001. 

David Leavy, COO, CNN Worldwide

Mike McCarthy, EVP & General Manager, CNN International

CNN International has a very different flavor from its US counterpart. It's distributed in 350 million homes worldwide, with feeds catering to various parts of the world. In some locales, CNN shows up through franchise agreements with other entities.

McCarthy is responsible for overseeing this global output, which has received multiple prestigious awards for its journalism under his watch. He's been CNN's point person for coverage of events such as the war in Ukraine and King Charles III's coronation.

McCarthy has been with the network for 24 years and is based in Atlanta. 

Virginia Moseley, EVP, Editorial, CNN US

Lisa Reeves, SVP Talent Negotiations, CNN Worldwide

Atlanta-based Reeves is in charge of CNN's many talent deals, which can range from the appointment of Kaitlan Collins into CNN's vaunted primetime slot at 9 p.m. to bringing on a former government official or an expert as a contributor.

Reeves works with a host of lawyers and talent agencies to manage staff contracts. She was previously assistant general counsel at Turner Broadcasting. 

Ellen Russ, SVP, People and Culture, Warner Bros. Discovery

Russ oversees people and culture responsibilities for CNN from her perch at Warner Bros. Discovery. She has eyes on the company's execution of talent strategy globally, including at CNN US, CNN International, and other outlets like the company's sports divisions and Bleacher Report. She started in the Washington bureau of CNN in HR.

Eric Sherling, EVP, US Programming, CNN Worldwide

Athan Stephanopoulos, EVP & Chief Digital Officer, CNN Worldwide

David Vigilante, EVP & General Counsel, CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports

Vigilante is on the front lines of defending CNN's journalism against legal threats. In 2021, he wrote for the network's site about a gag order that had prevented him from speaking about a federal government order seeking emails from then-CNN Pentagon reporter Barbara Starr. Vigilante fought the order until courts narrowed its requirements. 

Atlanta-based Vigilante also occasionally contributes to CNN — he picked up the national Edward R. Murrow award for writing in 2013.