CNN President Zucker Resigns After Relationship With Co-worker Exposed

CNN president leaves news org abruptly.

QUICK FACTS:

• CNN President Jeff Zucker abruptly resigned Wednesday after acknowledging a relationship with another network executive, The Associated Press reports, ending his nine-year tenure at the helm of the scandal-plagued network, as its ratings continue to fall.
• Allison Gollust, CNN’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, acknowledged the relationship in a memo of her own.
• “Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. 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 every day,” she said.
• AP notes it isn’t clear who would run CNN while a permanent replacement is sought.

BREAKING: CNN President Jeff Zucker resigned abruptly after acknowledging a consensual relationship with a co-worker. Zucker said he failed to disclose that relationship in the wake of the company’s investigation into Chris Cuomo. https://t.co/IxC4MWxG1u

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 2, 2022

WHAT ZUCKER SAID:

• Zucker said he acknowledged the relationship when asked about it as part of an investigation into Chris Cuomo, the former CNN anchor who was fired after it was discovered that he aided his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he navigated a sexual harassment investigation.
• “I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t,” Zucker wrote. “I was wrong.”

BACKGROUND:

• Prior to joining CNN, Gollust served as communications director for Andrew Cuomo, according to a biography posted on the CNN website, AP notes.
• Zucker was named chairman of WarnerMedia News and Sports in March 2019, also serving as president of CNN Worldwide since 2013.