Discovery is expected to appoint Chris Licht as next president of CNN following Jeff Zucker's resignation
- Chris Licht is expected to be announced as the next president of CNN, multiple sources told Insider on Saturday.
- Licht will take over for former president Jeff Zucker, who resigned earlier this month.
Chris Licht is expected to be tapped as the next president of CNN, multiple sources confirmed to Insider on Saturday.
Discovery Inc. is set to officially announce Licht as head of the global news organization later this week, the sources say. Licht is currently executive producer of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," and formerly worked as executive producer of "CBS This Morning" and MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Licht's appointment comes after the resignation of former CNN president Jeff Zucker earlier this month, following reports that the executive failed to disclose a relationship with a colleague. The relationship was unveiled as part of the network's investigation into the conduct of anchor Chris Cuomo. Zucker described the relationship as "consensual" and with his "closest colleague" of 20 years, according to a statement shared by CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter.
Representatives for WarnerMedia and Discovery declined Insider's request to comment on Saturday.
Zucker was expected to play a pivotal role in the forthcoming merger between CNN's parent company, WarnerMedia, and Discovery, slated for this summer. The executive initially asked to continue through spring after reports of the relationship surfaced, but he was denied by WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, according to a report from Stelter.
According to Puck's Dylan Byers, who first reported on Licht's appointment, Licht will oversee CNN as head of news for Discovery. However, unlike Zucker, he will not manage sports coverage. The executive will likely start after his CBS contract expires in April, though an official announcement of his appointment is expected before an upcoming Discovery shareholders meeting on March 11, Byers reported.
The announcement will mark Discovery's first significant appointment ahead of its merger with WarnerMedia.