Jeff Zucker Exits CNN After Relationship With Senior Executive
Source: New York Times
Jeff Zucker resigned on Wednesday as the president of CNN and the chairman of WarnerMedia's news and sports division, writing in a memo that he had failed to disclose to the company a romantic relationship with another senior executive at CNN.
Mr. Zucker, 56, is among the most powerful leaders in the American media and television industries. The abrupt end of his nine-year tenure immediately throws into flux the direction of CNN and its parent company, WarnerMedia, which is expected to be acquired later this year by Discovery Inc. in one of the nation's largest media mergers.
In a memo to colleagues that was obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Zucker wrote that his relationship came up during a network investigation into the conduct of Chris Cuomo, the CNN anchor who was fired in December over his involvement in the political affairs of his brother, former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York.
"As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo's tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years," Mr. Zucker wrote. "I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn't. I was wrong." "As a result, I am resigning today," he wrote.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/business/media/jeff-zucker-cnn.html
Link to tweet
@brianstelter
Jeff Zucker just announced his resignation to a stunned CNN.
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11:02 AM · Feb 2, 2022
By Brian Stelter, CNN Business
Updated 11:09 AM ET, Wed February 2, 2022
New York (CNN Business)CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker said Wednesday that he is resigning, effective immediately.
Zucker said in a memo, "As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo's tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years. I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn't. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today."
Zucker did not name his colleague in the memo, but the relationship is with Allison Gollust, the chief marketing officer for CNN. Gollust is remaining at CNN.
This is a developing story. Check back for more...
https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/media/jeff-zucker-cnn/index.html
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Geez, these "titans of industry" harm society by promulgating propaganda, polluting, cheating workers, destroying democracy, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum, but it's this guy's sex life that gets him out?
.. because everyone already knew about him and Allison Gollust. Something else is going to come out, eventually.
... between the executives and that's not so unusual. Zucker was asked in writing - before he was hired by CNN - whether he was dating anyone in the company and he answered "No." But that was a lie, he was already in a relationship with Allison.
So Zucker lied to get the job, but according to Keith Olbermann, people already knew for 10 years or more about their relationship. The question is, why is this suddenly an issue now? Zucker could have quit or gotten fired a long time ago, but nothing happened. The implication is that Zucker isn't really in trouble for being in a relationship with Allison, there's something else that he's not saying.
... good move for CNN, but I think the reason is strange. Maybe there is something there about sex with co-workers... she should be fired, also.
