Mark Thompson Stays at CNN as Skydance Takes Control of Warner Bros. Discovery

Mark Thompson will remain chairman and editor-in-chief of CNN under Skydance following the completion of Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company.

Mark Thompson will continue leading CNN under Skydance following the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. [Photo: Ståle Grut / NRKbeta Flickr]

Thompson, who has led CNN for nearly three years, announced that he would remain in his roles after discussions with David Ellison, the chairman and CEO of the newly combined company, and Ynon Kreiz, its co-CEO.

The transaction has now closed, creating the combined Skydance company.

Thompson will report directly to Ellison and Kreiz. CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss will also remain in her position, with the two news organizations continuing to operate under separate leadership structures.

The arrangement eases uncertainty over whether CNN and CBS News would be combined under a single editorial operation.

Under the announced structure, Thompson will continue to oversee CNN, while Weiss will remain in charge of CBS News.

In a memo to CNN employees, Thompson said he was confident that Ellison and Kreiz understood and would support CNN's commitment to independent journalism. He also said Skydance's leadership viewed news as a strategic opportunity alongside entertainment.

The merger brings CNN, CBS, Paramount, HBO and other major entertainment and media assets under the new Skydance corporate structure.