CNN has named Jeff Zucker, the former head of NBC Universal, as its new president.
Starting in January, Zucker will take charge of CNN‘s nearly two dozen branded news and information properties — including CNN International and CNN.com, the company announced Thursday.
Zucker worked at NBC for 25 years, starting out as a researcher for NBC Sports coverage and working his way up to be the president and CEO of the company. Along the way, he executive produced some of NBC’s most popular programs, including Today and NBC Nightly News With Tom Brokaw. For the past year, Zucker has served as the executive producer for Katie Couric’s new talk show on NBC.
“Jeff’s experience as a news executive is unmatched for its breadth and success,” said Phil Kent, chairman and CEO of CNN’s parent company, Turner Broadcasting System, in a statement. “He built and sustained the number-one brand in morning news, and under his watch NBC’s signature news programming set a standard for quality and professionalism. As a programmer, a brand-builder and a leader, he will bring energy and new thinking to CNN. I couldn’t be happier to welcome him or more excited about what he’ll accomplish here.”
Zucker, for his part, said he was excited to return to a “daily newsgathering” environment like CNN, after having worked with NBC’s entertainment division.
“Outside of my family and the Miami Dolphins, there is nothing I am as passionate about as journalism,” Zucker said in a statement accepting the position. “I spent the most rewarding years of my career as a journalist, and it’s where I look forward to spending many more. I am grateful to Phil Kent for this opportunity, and I’m excited to return to daily newsgathering and compelling storytelling in a place that values those above all else.”
Zucker replaces Jim Walton, who announced in July that he would step down from being president of CNN at the end of this year. Walton had been president of CNN since 2003 and helped the company to grow its revenue in the intervening years. Zucker had been considered a likely candidate to fill the position from the start, and rumors circulated earlier this week that Zucker had been tapped for the role.
While CNN has posted record profits, its ratings have been on the decline in the U.S., hitting a 20-year monthly low earlier this year. During a conference call, Zucker noted that boosting ratings is not his sole objective, but beating out Fox News and MSNBC in daily prime time ratings is certainly a goal.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images.
Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/29/cnn-jeff-zucker-president/
Former NBC Universal CEO Named President of CNN
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