CNN’s Mark Thompson to Keep Job After Paramount Merger

Mark Thompson, the former New York Times Co. executive who has been running Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.’s CNN, has been asked to stay in his role overseeing the news network after its parent company is acquired by Paramount Skydance Corp.

Paramount Chief Executive Officer David Ellison asked Thompson to stay on following the merger, and they are discussing a new contract for the executive, whose deal expires next year, according to person familiar with the discussions who asked not to be identified because the talks were private.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thompson’s status earlier on Thursday.

CNN didn’t immediately respond for requests for comment.

Paramount is acquiring Warner Bros. in a $110 billion deal that will result in numerous management changes over the next few weeks. The deal will place two major news organizations, Paramount’s CBS News division and CNN, under the same ownership.

The transaction is expected to close on Oct. 6.

Thompson’s future had been the subject of debate in New York media circles. He presently serves as CEO of CNN Worldwide.

Ellison last year named journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. The two news outlets will be overseen by a yet-to-be-formed independent editorial board as part of an antitrust settlement Paramount reached with a group of state attorneys general.