Media Moves

NYT, BBC vet Mark Thompson to lead CNN?

August 28, 2023

Posted by Mariam Ahmed

While ousted CNN leader Chris Licht continues to admire his buff bod at the gym and justify his disastrous Trump town hall, the following excerpt was sent out from Reuters:

Mark Thompson (Photo: Getty Images)

CNN is considering former New York Times and BBC chief Mark Thompson as one of the top candidates to lead the media company, news website Semafor reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the talks.

Thompson left the Times (NYT.N) in 2020 after an eight-year tenure, during which he oversaw the publication’s transformation from print to digital.

The veteran media executive began his career at the British Broadcasting Corporation, which he joined in 1979 as a production trainee, eventually becoming editor of the “Nine O’Clock News” and “Panorama” and later, director of television.

He left the BBC in 2002 to become chief executive of Channel 4, but returned when he was appointed director-general in May 2004, a position he held until 2012.

He could not be reached for comment. A spokesman for CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O), declined a request for comment.

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