After rebranding its HBO Max streamer as Max in 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery just lately reverted the platform again to HBO Max, a model with extra status and historical past. Now, the corporate is pulling an analogous transfer for its company rebrands forward of its upcoming break up in mid-2026.
Round three years after WarnerMedia and Discovery’s $43 billion merger to create Warner Bros. Discovery, the corporate introduced that its new spinoff corporations can be referred to as Warner Bros., which can comprise the streaming and studios divisions, and Discovery International, which can embrace the worldwide networks. Very similar to HBO Max, the names return to the corporate’s roots.
“We’ll proudly proceed the greater than century-long legacy of Warner Bros. by our dedication to bringing culture-defining tales, characters, and leisure to audiences all over the world,” CEO David Zaslav mentioned in an announcement. “Over the previous a number of years, we’ve made vital strides throughout the enterprise, launching and investing in a worthwhile, international streaming service and reinvigorating our studios to return them once more to an industry-leading place. With our unmatched portfolio of storytelling IP coupled with our unbelievable inventive companions, and now an govt staff of confirmed, daring, and dedicated inventive and company leaders, we’re in a powerful place to launch and proceed to meaningfully develop an organization worthy of our storied previous.”
Warner Bros. could have Warner Bros. Tv, Warner Bros. Movement Image Group, DC Studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Gaming Studios. The management staff consists of Zaslav as CEO; Pam Abdy, co-chair and CEO Warner Bros. Movement Image Group; Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max; and Bruce Campbell, COO.
In the meantime, Discovery International could have CNN, TNT Sports activities within the U.S., Discovery, and free-to-air channels throughout Europe, in addition to digital merchandise such because the Discovery+ streaming service and Bleacher Report (B/R). The management staff consists of Gunnar Wiedenfels (at the moment CFO of Warner Bros. Discovery) as CEO; the corporate’s advert leaders, Ryan Gould and Bobby Voltaggio; and Gerhard Zeiler, president, U.S., U.Okay. & Germany, Discovery+ and CCO.
“As we put together for the launch of Discovery International, our enthusiasm for the alternatives forward solely grows because of our main portfolio of beloved manufacturers and programming, our worldwide footprint for adults, children, and households, and now the skilled and proficient management staff who will guarantee robust operational execution to drive strategic investments and ship compelling content material to international audiences,” Wiedenfels mentioned.
Although each of WBD’s advert gross sales chiefs are underneath the Discovery model, when WBD introduced its plans to separate the corporate in June, Wiedenfels famous that he anticipated U.S. advert gross sales to proceed to go to market collectively.
Along with the C-suite bulletins, Warner Bros. is searching for a brand new CFO and chief folks and tradition officer, and Discovery International will rent a chief communications and public affairs officer.
After asserting the corporate break up this 12 months, Zaslav famous that the choice would deliver “sharper focus and strategic flexibility” to the businesses as they navigate at the moment’s evolving media panorama.
Comcast can be making an analogous transfer with its properties, splitting the vast majority of its cable networks from NBCU into a brand new firm, Versant.
See WBD’s new management groups beneath.
The Warner Bros. management staff consists of:
- David Zaslav, President and CEO
- Pam Abdy, Co-Chair and CEO Warner Bros. Movement Image Group
- Priya Aiyar, Chief Authorized Officer
- Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max
- Bruce Campbell, Chief Working Officer
- Mike De Luca, Co-Chair & CEO, Warner Bros. Movement Image Group
- Channing Dungey, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. TV Group
- Robert Gibbs, Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer
- James Gunn, Co-Chairman and CEO, DC Studios
- Lori Locke, Chief Accounting Officer (reporting to the Chief Monetary Officer)
- JB Perrette, CEO & President of Streaming and Video games
- Peter Safran, Co-Chairman and CEO, DC Studios
- Avi Saxena, Chief Know-how Officer (reporting to Perrette)
The Discovery International’s management staff consists of:
- Gunnar Wiedenfels, President and CEO
- David Duvall, Chief Know-how Officer
- Amy Girdwood, Chief Folks & Tradition Officer
- Ryan Gould, President, U.S. Advert Gross sales GTM (reporting to Zeiler)
- Anil Jhingan, Chief Growth Officer
- Kasia Kieli, President and MD, Poland and CEO, TVN
- Fernando Medin, President, Worldwide
- Scott Miller, President, Distribution (reporting to Zeiler)
- Fulvia Nicoli, Govt Vice President, Content material Technique & Insights (reporting to Zeiler)
- Brian Rauch, Chief Accounting Officer (reporting to Woodford)
- Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO, TNT Sports activities
- Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide
- Sue Underwald, Chief Authorized Officer
- Bobby Voltaggio, President, U.S. Advert Gross sales Platform Monetization (reporting to Zeiler)
- Fraser Woodford, Chief Monetary Officer
- Gerhard Zeiler, President, U.S., U.Okay. & Germany, Discovery+ and Chief Content material Officer
