CNN has appointed Mark Thompson, former BBC and New York Times executive, as its new leader.

Former BBC and New York Times CEO Chosen to Lead CNN

In⁤ an exciting development, ‍Mark Thompson, a former chief executive of the BBC⁤ and The New York Times,⁣ has been appointed as CNN’s new chair and ‌CEO.⁣ This decision comes after CNN experienced leadership changes and a ‌decline in viewership over the past⁣ two years.

Thompson, known for⁢ his ability to‍ spot opportunities during times of disruption, will take ‌over on October 9th, replacing Chris Licht and a four-person interim team. His impressive track ​record includes leading​ The New York Times’⁢ transition to a digital-first organization, relying⁢ more on paid subscribers than traditional advertising.

Hailing from England and recently knighted⁣ by the British‍ government, Thompson served⁣ as the ⁤director-general of the ​BBC ​from ⁢2004 to 2012. David Zaslav, chief of Warner Bros. Discovery, expressed ⁢his admiration for Thompson’s transformative leadership and ability to inspire⁤ organizations.

In his own note to ‌CNN staff, Thompson acknowledged ⁢the challenges faced ⁢by television journalism in the current disruptive landscape. He‌ recognized the pressure from various ‍sources and​ the ​recent uncertainty experienced by CNN. However, he emphasized his belief ⁤in seeing opportunity where‌ others see threat.

This appointment signifies a shift from a leader with limited experience⁢ to someone who has held top executive roles⁤ at two renowned news organizations. Thompson’s successful⁤ tenure at The New‍ York Times,​ where he ‌focused on the business side, will ‍now be expanded at CNN, mirroring his achievements ‍at the BBC.

Thompson’s leadership at the BBC was instrumental in stabilizing the organization after a scandal⁤ surrounding its reporting on Iraq’s weapons programs. While he faced criticism ‍for the BBC’s handling of child abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile, Thompson ‍denied involvement in​ the decision to ‌shelve⁤ an‌ investigation into Savile.

In a 2021 interview, ‌Thompson discussed his‌ success ⁢in ⁣building digital subscriptions for The New York Times, despite initial⁤ skepticism. He hired teams of engineers and ‌data scientists to enhance the reading experience across ⁣different ⁣devices, resulting‍ in a significant ​increase in paid subscribers during his tenure.

Thompson’s experience implementing⁣ a digital media ⁣plan for the⁢ BBC was more challenging, with⁣ a parliamentary committee summoning him to testify due to wasted funds and poor planning. At CNN, he faces the ​ongoing ​challenge of ⁣fluctuating viewership, particularly in a politically polarized climate where⁢ opinionated talk shows dominate.