Phil Kent, chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting System, the parent company of news network CNN, has announced that Jeff Zucker will join CNN Worldwide as president in January next year.
Zucker is the former CEO and president of NBCUniversal.
Zucker, who is at present the executive producer of the syndicated daytime talk show Katie, will replace Jim Walton, who in July had announced his decision of stepping down at the end of this year.
Based in New York, Zucker will assume executive oversight of a portfolio of 23 branded news and information businesses that includes CNN/US, CNN International, CNN.com and HLN.
He will report to Kent.
Zucker started his 25-year career with NBC as a researcher for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games and rose to president and chief executive officer of NBC Universal. He was named executive producer of Today in January 1992. Under his eight-year leadership, the program was the most-watched morning news show and the most profitable program on television. He went on to executive-produce NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and the network’s coverage of the Persian Gulf War, the 1993 and 1997 presidential inaugurations and the 2000 elections.
He was promoted to president of NBC Entertainment, president of the NBC Entertainment, News & Cable group and president and CEO of the NBC Universal Television Group.
“Jeff’s experience as a news executive is unmatched for its breadth and success,” said Kent. “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.”
“The global reach and scale of the CNN brand is unparalleled in all of news. Outside of my family and the Miami Dolphins, there is nothing I am as passionate about as journalism. 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 added.
