News

Athan Stephanopoulos will leave his role as chief digital officer of CNN as the news outlet’s new chief starts to implement his strategic vision for the Warner Bros. Discovery property.

In a memo issued Wednesday, Stephanopoulos said that Mark Thompson, CNN”s new chief, “had his own vision of how he wanted digital operations to be organized. In order to give him the freest hand possible to structure and shape the organization moving forward, I felt that now was the best time for me to step back from my role and move on to a new chapter. I sincerely wish CNN and each of you great success in the path ahead.”

This marks the second turnover of digital executives at CNN since Warner Bros. Discovery took over management of the operation as part of its purchase of WarnerMedia assets from AT&T in August of 2022. In June of 2022, CNN parted...

CNN hired Alex Charalambides, most recently chief technology officer at digital media firm Insider Inc., as its new Cto.

Charalambides officially starts at CNN on Monday, Nov. 28. He reports to Patty Hirsch, global EVP of consumer digital for Warner Bros. Discovery.

CNN, like other properties under the former WarnerMedia, has seen a high amount of turnover following Discovery’s acquisition to form Warner Bros. Discovery. Charalambides will assume the Cto role after the departure of CNN Digital Cto Robyn Peterson in June, when interim head of CNN Digital Alex MacCallum also exited. Those staffing changes came under CNN CEO Chris Licht, who came on board after Warner Bros. Discovery closed the WarnerMedia deal and quickly shuttered the CNN+ subscription service.

Last month, CNN named Athan Stephanopolous, previously president of Group Nine Media’s NowThis, as the head of CNN Digital. In a memo to staff, Stephanopolous called Charalambides “a seasoned...

Rebecca Kutler, a longtime CNN talent and development executive who had had a hand in the success of anchors and contributors including Abby Phillip and Van Jones, is leaving the news outlet, a move that is said to be raising eyebrows among some of the Warner Bros. Discovery outlet’s team of journalists.

Kutler had most recently been senior vice president and head of programming for CNN+, the much-promoted streaming video hub that was scuttled by CNN’s new corporate parent quickly after the merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia. But her influence at CNN spans well beyond a new streaming effort. She also oversees all analysts, contributors and commentators for CNN, a job she has held since 2015, and was a key lieutenant for former CNN chief Jeff Zucker as well as Amy Entelis, who oversees talent at the news venue

Her departure was announced at a morning editorial meeting on Thursday,...

A second senior CNN executive who was deeply involved in the launch of the company’s CNN+ streaming-video hub is set to leave the company.

In a memo to staffers delivered Wednesday, CNN CEO Chris Licht said Alex MacCallum, who had been named interim chief of CNN’s digital operations, was planning to leave the Warner Bros. Discovery unit on June 30. Wendy Brundige, senior vice president of global digital video, will take over the role of interim chief. Robyn Peterson, CNN Digital’s chief technology officer, is also leaving, Licht said.

MacCallum had been general manager of CNN+, which launched just weeks prior to the merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia. CNN representatives were not able to respond immediately to a query seeking comment.

“Alex let me know early on that she is passionate about direct-to-consumer work, and while looking for that in her next chapter, she would assume the role on an interim basis.

Bah Gawd that’s Barstool’s music! Barstool Sports CEO Erika Nardini has been elected to WWE’s board of directors. “Erika is a seasoned executive with a tremendous track record of building businesses, developing experiences, and engaging different audiences across the media ecosystem,” said Vince McMahon, WWE chairman & CEO. “Her entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen and understanding of today’s consumers will serve as a perfect addition to our Board of Directors.” In 2016, Nardini became Barstool’s Sports’ first-ever CEO. There, she’s launched more than 35 brands, according to WWE. Also Read: Rulon Gardner Explains Why Talks With WWE Broke Down - Twice Earlier this year, Nardini struck a deal with Penn National Gaming that resulted in the creation of Barstool Sportsbook. Prior to joining Barstool Sports, Nardini held executive posts at Microsoft, AOL, Demand Media and Yahoo! She sits on the advisory board of Premiere Lacrosse League. In addition to McMahon and Nardini,...

A fresh-faced Robyn Peterson left Miami at the ripe age of 16 to pursue a career in couture fashion modeling, gracing covers and spreads in Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior. At 26, it was all over.

Now, 40 years after she hit the modeling scene, a wiser, seasoned and still beautiful Peterson headlines "Catwalk Confidential," a part-memoir performance piece that hits the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami on March 17th thru the 20th. Peterson gives an unfiltered peek into the inside world of modeling of yesteryear where you're only as good as your last birthday.

Cns: Welcome back to Miami, which has a big part in your play but also in your life.. How does it feel to be bringing it back here for the first time?...

Before there was Kate, and before there was Naomi, and before there was Claudia, there was Robyn Peterson. "Catwalk Confidential" tells her story. This one-woman show comes to the Arts Theatre in London's West End straight from its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Festival. It previews at the Arts Theatre from 4 September and opens on Wednesday 9 September for a limited season, ending on Saturday 3 October.