CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker has announced his resignation from the network, effective immediately.
In his resignation note seen by Business Today, Zucker said that his unexpected exit was as a result of a relationship with a colleague whom he did not name. However, it has emerged that the colleague is Allison Gollust, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer at CNN.
“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. 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,” said Zucker.
The resignation comes a month after Zucker sacked prime-time anchor Chris Cuomo for improperly advising his brother, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, about how to address sexual misconduct allegations.
“I came to CNN on January 28, 2013. Together, we had nine great years. I certainly wish my tenure here had ended differently. But it was an amazing run. And I loved every minute. I am grateful to the thousands of incredibly talented CNN and Turner Sports employees who helped make this such a joy for me, and such a success for all of us. I wish each of you nothing but the best in the years ahead,” he said.
Zucker sacked Chris on conflict of interest grounds before the latter decided to go down with his boss, by asking investigators to preserve communications between Zucker, Gollust, and his brother Andrew.
Before joining CNN, Gollust worked for Andrew as communications director, further complicating the matter.
Zucker is believed to have earned $6 million (Ksh680 million) a year, but the unceremonious exit could deny him severance pay amounting to hundreds of millions.
Zucker and Gollust both divorced from their partners years ago.
WarnerMedia, CNN’s parent company, was in the process of merging with Discovery. The process would have seen Zucker promoted to head the merged entity.
As a result, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar has appointed Michael Bass, Amy Entelis, and Ken Jautz to head CNN until the merger is completed.
“I have full confidence that Michael, Amy and Ken, as interim heads for News, will provide the leadership this organization needs during this time of transition,” Kilar said, adding that employees will “hear more” from the three executives “in the coming days.”
Zucker’s move sets tall-order precedence for the media industry globally and also Kenya, where “newsroom relationships” have become common especially between senior employees and their juniors.
Worse still, some relationships border on sexual abuse since it is often anchored on workplace favour, where some staffers, mostly female benefit through promotions or monetary gain.
Read: Steamy E-mails That Got Jeff Koinange Smoked Out Of CNN
