New CNN Chief Faces Herculean Task

It's official: Mark Thompson, the former chief executive of The New York Times and director-general of the BBC, will be the next leader of CNN, taking the reins of the renowned global news organization at one of the most pivotal times in its 43-year history, as reported by Oliver Darcy in an analysis for CNN.

The CNN job is a risk for Thompson, who is coming out of retirement, and he has his work cut out for him as he tries to replicate his triumph at The New York Times. I Photo: PR Newswire

Thompson, who will officially begin on October 9 as chief executive and chairman, as well as editor-in-chief, said in a statement that he "couldn't be more excited about the chance to join CNN after years of watching it and competing against it with a mixture of admiration and envy."

He added, "The world needs accurate trustworthy news now more than ever, and we've never had more ways of meeting that need at home and abroad. Where others see disruption, I see opportunity."

Darcy said the CNN job is a risk for Thompson, who is coming out of retirement, and he has his work cut out for him as he tries to replicate his triumph at The New York Times.

It is also a risk for David Zaslav, the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, but a development welcomed by CNN's interim leadership as well as the 4,000 employees rattled by the incompetence of Chris Licht, who was ousted after his town hall with Donald Trump bombed.

Licht also boosted MSNBC's stature by his incoherent editorial policy and opaque vision. In contrast, Thompson knows what he does and has a 20/20 vision of what the network's mission should be.

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