David Leavy is departing his position as chief operating officer of CNN Worldwide and will return to parent Warner Bros. Discovery.
Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN, wrote that Leavy “has decided to return to a role at Warner Bros. Discovery in the weeks ahead.”
Leavy has served as COO for the past two years. His move from WBD was announced just before Chris Licht’s tenure leading CNN came to an end. In the interim, Leavy and Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley and Eric Sherling led the network, before Thompson’s hire.
“David fell in love with CNN from the moment he walked in and has supported and championed our journalism and our great brand ever since,” Thompson wrote in a memo to staffers. “He’s always been a voice for change and confidence in the future.”
Thompson wrote that Leavy would “spend the next month or so ensuring a smooth transition.”
Thompson wrote that, with Leavy’s departure, the international commercial and revenue teams led by Phil Nelson, and the communications organization, led by Emily Kuhn, will now report to him. Sam Felix, senior VP of strategic partnerships and business development, also will report to Thompson. Variety first reported on Leavy’s move.
