Who Are the 4 People Running CNN Now?

Jun 02, 2023

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The network will be managed on an interim basis by a group of executives.

By Katie Robertson

On Wednesday, Chris Licht's turbulent tenure at CNN was abruptly cut short, just over a year after he stepped into the top job.

The network will be managed on an interim basis by a group of three editorial executives — Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley and Eric Sherling — until a permanent replacement for Mr. Licht is found. The trio will be supported by the recently hired chief operating officer, David Leavy.

Here's a look at CNN's new leaders:

Amy Entelis, 72, is a veteran cable news executive who has been at CNN since 2012. Currently the executive vice president for talent and content development, Ms. Entelis oversees CNN's documentary series and films as well as recruitment for on-air talent. She was responsible for the network's first Academy Award, winning best documentary this year for "Navalny," about the imprisoned Russian dissident Aleksei A. Navalny.

Her division was reduced as part of cost-cutting measures by Mr. Licht, who announced in October that CNN would stop buying original TV series and documentary films and that Ms. Entelis would explore developing a studio focused on long-form content.

Before joining CNN, Ms. Entelis worked at ABC News for 30 years, starting as a producer and rising through various leadership roles. She was one of three executives chosen last year to lead CNN on an interim basis after the ouster of its previous chief executive, Jeff Zucker.

Virginia Moseley, 61, is CNN's executive vice president of editorial, in charge of all news gathering for TV and digital across the United States.

She was promoted to that job in July 2022 by Mr. Licht after a decade at the network, which she joined as a deputy in the Washington bureau. She oversees all U.S. bureaus and is responsible for coverage plans for reporting teams including the White House and Congress.

Ms. Moseley previously worked for 18 years at ABC News, where she was a senior Washington producer for "Good Morning America." She is married to Thomas R. Nides, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

Eric Sherling, 48, has spent most of his career at CNN. Currently the executive vice president for U.S. programming, he oversees all live programs, including for mornings, prime time and special events. Mr. Sherling, who has won Emmy, Peabody, and Edward R. Murrow awards, was behind the April launch of "CNN News Central," a daytime news program ordered up by Mr. Licht.

Previously, Mr. Sherling headed up Washington programming and was in charge of the launch of the show "The Lead With Jake Tapper."

Earlier in his career, Mr. Sherling worked at CNN as Wolf Blitzer's executive producer for nine years before doing a two-year stint at ABC's "Good Morning America." He returned to CNN in 2011.

David Leavy, 53, was named CNN's chief operating officer last week, a sign of rising concern about Mr. Licht's leadership.

Mr. Leavy has worked for Discovery, now Warner Bros Discovery, for more than two decades, most recently as chief corporate affairs officer. He was a trusted deputy of David Zaslav, the company's chief executive. Mr. Leavy will continue in his role overseeing public policy and social responsibility at Warner Bros. Discovery while doing his new CNN job.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Leavy was a spokesman for the National Security Council and a deputy press secretary for foreign affairs during the Clinton administration.

Katie Robertson is a media reporter. She previously worked as an editor and reporter at Bloomberg and News Corporation Australia. Email: [email protected] @katie_robertson

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