Chris Licht formally named the new head of CNN

Variety

Discovery named Licht the chairman and CEO of CNN Global, which is what CNN will be known as when Discovery acquires its parent WarnerMedia. Licht succeeds Jeff Zucker, who was ousted as CNN president earlier this month. Licht, currently, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's executive producer, helped launch MSNBC's Morning Joe and reverse the ratings slide at CBS This Morning. “I have known and admired Chris for more than 15 years and strongly believe he is the best person to lead CNN Global as part of Warner Bros. Discovery,” Discovery CEO David Zaslav said in a statement. “Chris is a dynamic and creative producer, an engaging and thoughtful journalist, and a true news person. Licht said in a memo to CNN staff he plans to do a lot of listening, noting that his wife Jenny worked at CNN for more than a decade. “Together, we will double-down on what’s working well and quickly eliminate what’s not,” he wrote.