David Leavy, who’s been steering the ship as Chief Operating Officer at CNN Worldwide since mid-2023, is stepping away from the role at the end of June 2025. He’s heading back to familiar territory, CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), after what many insiders see as a critical two years for the news network.
When Leavy joined CNN, the timing was… well, let’s just say less than ideal. It was shortly after former CEO Chris Licht left under a cloud of controversy, and the network was clearly in need of steady hands. Alongside longtime execs like Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, and Eric Sherling, Leavy helped bring much-needed stability and direction during what some called a “rebuilding season.”
David Leavy: The Guy Who Brought the Calm
Mark Thompson, CNN’s current chairman and CEO, had nothing but praise for Leavy’s leadership during what he called a “crucial transition period.” He credited Leavy with bringing structure and focus back to the organization, just as importantly, helping it look ahead.
“David brought order, direction, and a sense of confidence during a crucial transition,” Thompson said, underlining Leavy’s role in prepping CNN for a multiplatform future.
From internal restructuring to recalibrating international and commercial strategies, Leavy had his fingerprints on a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that helped CNN find its footing again. He also helped ease the leadership handoff, laying a foundation for long-term growth.
Heading Back to the Mothership
Before jumping into the COO role at CNN, David Leavy had a long history with Discovery Inc. and later WBD, where he served in high-level positions like Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. He’s also known as a close adviser to WBD CEO David Zaslav. So his return feels more like a homecoming than a career leap, just with a new (undisclosed) title.
At WBD, he’s expected to continue weighing in on big-picture strategy, corporate affairs, and brand direction, areas he’s been shaping for years behind the scenes.
What Does the Future Hold for CNN?
With David Leavy on his way out, some of his responsibilities, including CNN’s international commercial and revenue ops, plus communications, will now report directly to Mark Thompson. The move seems pretty intentional, aiming to keep things running without disruption.
Interestingly, Leavy noted that when he first took the COO job, it was meant to be a short-term six-month stint. But clearly, things evolved.
“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made,” Leavy said. “I hope my time here helped bring collaboration and clarity during a challenging chapter.”
A Legacy of Balance and Clarity
Looking back, Leavy’s time at CNN will likely be remembered as a stretch when the network steadied itself and regained some strategic footing. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective.
Now, as he heads back to Warner Bros. Discovery, all eyes are on what David Leavy’s next move will be and how he’ll keep shaping the broader media landscape from behind the curtain.
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