On this Dec. 8, 2019 file photograph, CNN chief govt Jeff Zucker attends the thirteenth annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute in New York. (Photograph by Jason Mendez/Invision/AP, File)
NEW YORK --
CNN president Jeff Zucker abruptly resigned Wednesday after acknowledging a consensual relationship with one other community govt -- an entanglement that got here to gentle throughout an investigation of now-fired anchor Chris Cuomo.
Zucker mentioned he acknowledged the connection when requested about it as a part of the Cuomo investigation, which revealed that the previous anchor had aided his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he navigated a sexual harassment scandal.
"I used to be required to reveal it when it started however I did not," Zucker wrote in a memo asserting the tip of his nine-year tenure. "I used to be flawed."
Jason Kilar, CEO of WarnerMedia, instructed staff in a memo that an interim management plan can be introduced shortly.
Zucker, 56, has been an trade chief since he was govt producer of the "At this time" present within the Nineteen Nineties. Within the following decade, he ran NBC's leisure division, the place he was instrumental in placing Donald Trump on the fact present "The Apprentice."
He rose to grow to be chief of NBC Common and left in 2010 when Comcast took over.
In a press release Zucker mentioned he wished that his tenure at CNN had ended otherwise however, "it was an incredible run. And I liked each minute."
Allison Gollust, CNN's govt vp and chief advertising officer, acknowledged the connection in a memo of her personal.
"Jeff and I've been shut associates and professional companions for over 20 years. Just lately, our relationship modified throughout COVID. I remorse that we did not disclose it on the proper time. I am extremely pleased with my time at CNN and look ahead to persevering with the good work we do on a regular basis," she mentioned.
Previous to becoming a member of CNN, Gollust served as communications director for Andrew Cuomo, based on a biography posted on the CNN web site. Like Zucker, she labored at NBC Information previous to that.
Chris Cuomo actively helped craft his his brother's responses to sexual harassment prices, based on emails and a transcript of his testimony to investigators working for state Legal professional Normal Letitia James. Her workplace discovered that Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed not less than 11 ladies. The previous governor resigned in August to keep away from a possible impeachment trial.
Chris Cuomo's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, didn't instantly return a message in search of remark. Cuomo is reportedly in search of a settlement following his firing, and hypothesis that Zucker and Gollust's relationship would possibly come up in these talks was raised when Radaronline.com wrote a narrative concerning the two final month.
The information was met with shock inside CNN, the place Zucker was effectively appreciated and recognized for operating a decent ship. His high aides had been Gollust and Michael Bass, one other NBC Information veteran.
Specialists mentioned Zucker's resignation would possibly have an effect on the upcoming CNN+ streaming service, which has been making an aggressive effort to recruit huge media names like Fox Information' Chris Wallace and NPR's Audie Cornish. That service is predicted to launch in March.
"The timing of this departure might be about as ill-timed as you may get," for CNN+, mentioned Tim Hanlon, CEO of media consultancy The Vertere Group. "CNN is making up for lots of misplaced time with the arrival of their streaming service. The imaginative and prescient of CNN+ could be very a lot in query. It has Jeff Zucker's hallmarks throughout it."
Zucker's departure might additionally supply a possibility for the community to reassess its future.
"There have been studies over previous 12 months or so about whether or not or not Zucker was going to go away at finish of his contract," mentioned Moody's senior vp Neil Begley. "This clearly makes it fairly clear that their future is extra vast open. It makes a cleaner slate for the brand new staff to come back in and determine what's the easiest way to optimize CNN and information total."
Zucker was named chairman of WarnerMedia Information and Sports activities in March 2019. He has additionally served as president of CNN Worldwide since 2013.
He oversaw all of WarnerMedia's stay programming, together with all divisions of CNN Worldwide and Turner Sports activities. At CNN, that features the US tv community, CNN Worldwide, HLN, and CNN's digital properties. His sports activities portfolio contains Turner Sports activities and Bleacher Report.
"Each of those organizations are on the high of their respective video games and are ready for the following chapter," Kilar mentioned within the memo to CNN workers.
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