Jeff Zucker: CNN president resigns after relationship with colleague

Exit comes after former network head disclosed relationship with employee

CNN president Jeff Zucker announced his resignation from the network after disclosing a relationship with a colleague. AP
Powered by automated translation

Jeff Zucker said he is resigning as president of CNN and chairman of WarnerMedia's news and sports division, issuing a staff memo in which he acknowledged a consensual relationship with a close colleague.

Mr Zucker's resignation comes a month after the network fired anchor Chris Cuomo for helping his brother, Andrew Cuomo, during the former New York governor's sexual harassment scandal.

“As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo's tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years,” Mr Zucker said in a memo.

“I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn't. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today.”

The woman in the relationship is Allison Gollust, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for CNN. Both are divorced. She has said she will stay on with the network.

“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years,” Ms Gollust said in a statement.

“Recently, our relationship changed during Covid. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.”

Jason Kilar, chief executive of CNN's parent company WarnerMedia, accepted Mr Zucker's resignation.

“We thank Jeff for his contributions over the past nine years,” Mr Kilar said in an email to staffers.

Mr Kilar said three executives will lead CNN until WarnerMedia completes its merger with Discovery: Michael Bass, Amy Entelis and Ken Jautz.

CNN staffers will hear more on the new executives "in the coming days", Mr Kilar said in an email to employees.

Mr Zucker joined the network in 2013 as president of CNN Worldwide. In 2019, he was named chairman of WarnerNews Sports and Media.

The former CNN president said in a memo that he wished his tenure had ended differently, but he “loved every minute".

Mr Zucker oversaw all of WarnerMedia’s live programming, including all divisions of CNN Worldwide and Turner Sports. At CNN, that includes the US television network, CNN International, HLN and CNN’s digital properties. His sports portfolio includes Turner Sports and Bleacher Report.

Before joining CNN, Mr Zucker had served in numerous executive roles at NBC Universal, previously greenlighting former president Donald Trump's reality television series The Apprentice.

Agencies contributed to this report

Updated: February 03, 2022, 4:41 AM