Warner Bros. Discovery has figured out its new leadership for its U.S. cable networks.
Warner Bros. Television President Brett Paul and Howard Lee, who is President and Head of Content for TLC and Discovery, have gotten new roles as part of the move, which comes after Kathleen Finch revealed she was retiring.
Chairman and CEO, U.S. Networks Finch is retiring at the end of the year with Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, taking over leadership of this unit.
One slightly difficult element to all of this is that earlier this month, Warner Bros. Discovery created a new corporate structure, separating linear networks from streaming and studios. Given that Dungey runs the TV studio, it means she will have separate corporate reporting lines, a move that was called “slightly complicated” by one insider.
Paul will serve as Chief Operating Officer for U.S. Networks, leading business affairs and digital strategy. He will continue in his role at the studio and will continue to report to Dungey.
Lee has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer of U.S. Networks and will continue to serve in his previous role overseeing TLC and Discovery. He will report to Dungey and will focus on content strategy.
The U.S. Networks leadership team will also include Susan Kolar, is Chief Financial & Strategy Officer, reporting to Gunnar Wiedenfels, Chief Financial Officer, WBD; and Karen Bronzo, who will continue in her role as Chief Global Marketing Officer for U.S. Networks & News, co-reporting to Dungey and David Leavy, Chief Operating Officer, CNN Worldwide.
U.S Networks includes TBS, TNT, TLC, Discovery, Food Network, Investigation Discovery, Cartoon Network, HGTV and OWN. While these networks don’t greenlight as much original programming as they used to, they remain an invaluable source of business for medium sized and smaller producers.
“Building on the foundation that Kathleen established, I am excited to announce the core U.S. Networks leadership team who will drive a new creative vision and distribution plan that best serves our audiences, our partners, and our business,” said Dungey. “This powerful group will work to redefine the role of the U.S. Networks by fortifying our linear business while continuing to develop a content engine that feeds Max and creates shows that smartly leverage and promote our unparalleled IP.”
