FOLLOW US

Chris Licht, the CEO of CNN, has been ousted from his position after a tumultuous 13 months marked by controversy. 

In a recent statement, Licht referred to his time at CNN as "an exciting but incredibly challenging assignment" and expressed his gratitude for the learning experience. 

“I’ve been lucky enough to have had a successful, fulfilling career and I look forward to my next chapter. I wish the team at CNN the very best, always,” he added, according to CNN Business.

His departure comes after a damning exposé that highlighted his shortcomings in the role. CNN Business reported Licht's comments and the circumstances surrounding his exit.

Licht was chosen by David Zaslav, the head of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's corporate parent, in May of the previous year.

 His primary task was to steer the network away from its "anti-Trump" messaging, which had become a defining characteristic during Jeff Zucker's tenure as the previous CEO. However, Licht's tenure faced numerous challenges and setbacks.

Chris Licht out

During his time at CNN, Licht encountered a series of missteps leading to rock-bottom employee morale, layoffs, shrinking profits, historically low ratings, and the firing of two anchors. 

The chaos within the organization also followed other significant blows, such as the removal of Jeff Zucker and the closure of the nascent streaming service CNN+.

Licht's departure was announced by David Zaslav during CNN's daily editorial meeting. His exit symbolizes the end of a turbulent year for the network.

 Despite the challenges faced, Licht expressed gratitude for the opportunity and optimism for his future endeavors. Licht had previously achieved success as the leader of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" before taking on the role at CNN.

One of Licht's most criticized moves was organizing a town hall with former President Donald Trump, which received both praise and backlash. While the event garnered record-breaking viewership, it was widely regarded as a mistake due to moments of chaos and controversy.