Six more WarnerMedia execs to depart as pre-Discovery merger purge continues

WarnerMedia has confirmed the names of six additional executives, in addition to Jason Kilar, Ann Sarnoff and Andy Forsell, who are set to leave the company ahead of its merger with Discovery.

Tony Goncalves

The execs are Jim Meza (executive VP, general counsel), Jennifer Biry (chief financial officer), Tony Goncalves (executive VP, chief revenue officer), Jim Cummings (executive VP, chief human resources officer), Christy Haubegger (executive VP, communications and chief Inclusion officer) and Richard Tom (chief technology officer).

The purge has so far seen the elimination of nine senior executive roles. The departures began on Tuesday with WarnerMedia CEO Kilar confirming he would be leaving the company ahead of the completion of its US$43bn merger with Discovery.

“With the pending transaction with Discovery nearing close, now is the right time to share with each of you that I will be departing this amazing company,” said Kilar in a memo sent internally.

Later on Tuesday, the departures of Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, and Andy Forssell, head of direct-to-consumer service HBO Max, were also confirmed.

Reports suggest the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery could be finalised as early as the end of this week, at which time Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav will assume leadership of the combined entity.