Mark Thompson will remain chief executive of CNN after Paramount completes its acquisition of the network's parent company, Warner Bros Discovery, ending days of uncertainty among staff about leadership changes.
Thompson announced the decision in a memo to employees Monday morning, according to The Guardian. David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, will lead the combined company once the merger formally closes Tuesday.
Thompson has served as CNN's chair and chief executive since 2023. He previously held senior roles in British and American media. His retention came as a relief to employees who had feared significant operational overhauls and worried that media figure Bari Weiss might take control of the network.
Thompson acknowledged in his memo that specifics about how CNN will integrate into the new company structure "have yet to be finalized" but offered assurances about his continued leadership role at the merged entity.
The deal structure places Ellison in overall command of the combined operation while preserving Thompson's position running CNN specifically. This arrangement suggests Paramount Skydance intends to maintain existing CNN leadership during the transition rather than impose wholesale management changes.
The acquisition resolves weeks of speculation about CNN's future under new ownership. Warner Bros Discovery's decision to sell the network and merger discussions with Paramount had raised questions about the news division's autonomy and editorial direction under different ownership.