WASHINGTON: CNN president Jeff Zucker suddenly resigned on Wednesday for failing to uncover a romantic relationship with a colleague at the US cable television network.
“I completely desire my tenure right here had ended otherwise,” Zucker said in a message to the network’s workers. “Nonetheless it completely used to be an fabulous flee. And I loved every minute.”
Zucker, 56, said his resignation used to be effective straight.
As head of the cable network since 2013, Zucker used to be judicious one of the most mighty media executives in the United States and a frequent target of the ire of former president Donald Trump.
In his message, Zucker said that as portion of an investigation staunch into a CNN anchor, he used to be “asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, any individual I even have labored with for higher than 20 years.”
“I acknowledged the relationship evolved these days,” he said. “I was required to uncover it when it began nevertheless I did now not. I was corrupt.”
CNN known the colleague as chief advertising officer Allison Gollust, who said she would stay at the network.
“Jeff and I even had been shut friends and educated companions for over 20 years,” Gollust said in an announcement published by CNN.
“As of late, our relationship changed in the center of Covid,” she said. “I remorse that we did now not uncover it at the staunch time.
“I’m extremely tickled with my time at CNN and look ahead to persevering with the mountainous work we kind day after day.”
Zucker and Gollust are both divorced, per The Fresh York Conditions.
Zucker joined CNN from NBC, the place he served as president and chief govt officer of the NBC Fashioned Tv Crew.
Whereas at NBC, Zucker launched the reality TV model “The Apprentice” that rocketed Trump to stardom.
The two fell out after Fresh York staunch estate filthy rich particular person entered politics and CNN grew to alter staunch into a popular target of Trump’s diatribes in opposition to the media whereas in the White Rental.
In an announcement published by CNN, Jason Kilar, the CEO of WarnerMedia, CNN’s dad or mum firm, said he’ll be “announcing an length in-between management idea rapidly.”
“We thank Jeff for his contributions over the final 9 years,” Kilar said.
WarnerMedia is at this time engaged in merger talks with Discovery Inc.
