WarnerMedia Purge continues ahead of Discovery merger: EVP Corp Comm Christy Haubegger, EVP General Counsel Jim Meza, EVP HR Jim Cummings, CFO Jennifer Biry and more

Exclusive (updated for more details): Less than 24 hours after CEO Jason Killard, HBO CEO Max Andy Forsell and studio boss Anne Sarnoff left the soon-disappeared WarnerMedia, they showed the door to more executives Wednesday.

The group includes CFO Jennifer Beer; Christy Hauberger, right-wing spokesperson for Jason Killarr’s corporate communications, who is also director of inclusion; executive vice president of human resources Jim Cummings; Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer Tony Goncalves; Executive Vice President, General Councilor, Jim Meza; and Chief Technology Officer, Richard Tommy.

The latest batch of releases comes around 48 hours before the fledgling Discovery-WarnerMedia merger becomes final, with Discovery chief David Zaslav serving as chief executive. Zaslav is a guy who doesn’t like fat in his corporate structure and this morning’s mass shooting underlines that. Sources tell us the newly merged company looks set to debut on Wall Street Monday.

To help with the short-term “transition”, Communications Director Howeberger recently sent a memo to staff. “On a personal level, this trip was the pinnacle of my career,” she wrote on Wednesday. “Your talent honors him and your friendship has made him a joy,” added the esteemed executive. (See his full note below.)

Higher level departures are planned, however we understand that they may occur in the coming weeks rather than the next hours and days. We know that David Haddad, president of Warner Bros. Games, and Gerhard Zeiler, president of WarnerMedia International, have remained on the sidelines, although they no longer have a direct relationship to Kilar.

Casey Blois, chief content officer of HBO and HBO Max, should also be invited to stay. Among those likely to remain at Warner Bros. Discovery are Toby Emerick, president of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Studio, and Channing Dunge, president of Warner Bros. Television. Warner Bros. COO Carolyn Blackwood is also safe right now, we understand.

In this fluid situation, all production executives will reappear on the WarnerMedia website in their current previous positions.

That said, it came with great fanfare that Zaslav, the incumbent executive, was forced to name a studio kingdom. Names like Netflix director Scott Stuber, Disney General Entertainment president Peter Rice, and former Paramount Motion Pictures president Emma Watts are causing a stir in town for this job. However, there is a group of sources that ensure that a date is not inevitable.

We understand that Zaslav is referring to the film studio and thinks it needs to be corrected. Warner Bros. returns to theaters this year Batman After HBO Max’s day-and-date strategy was successful last year, Matt Reeves attempted to rack up revenue of over $ 700 million. At the same time, Sarnoff announced Tuesday that his role would not be duplicated in the new organizational structure of the United Company.

After a complete transfer from the club this week, Zaslav’s longtime assistant Adria Alpert Rome appears to be a crucial player to move forward. Discovery Communications SEVP Human Relations and Global Diversity will retire right now at the end of the year. However, as events unfold so quickly and staff changes like the Red Wedding occur, we understand that Rome may be putting off retirement for a second to help Zaslav run a large, newly merged company.

Of course, moving from a relatively small Discovery ship to an aircraft carrier that’s at WarnerMedia will require a quick and steep learning curve from Zaslav, Rome, and other members of Discovery’s inner circle.

Probably as fast as WarnerMedia executives on the board, at least not yet.

Here is the Howeberger release note:

Some days are bigger than others. This is one of those days.

I am writing to inform you that I will leave the company after the close of the merger. I will be here in the near future to help with the transition and keep doing the best part of my job, which is your defense. I’m sure future management knows how amazing this team is.

When I joined WarnerMedia three years ago, I was hired as the company’s first Inclusion Director. There were no Equity + Inclusion roles, teams or structures at the time. It was also a transition organization, but transition times often offer the best opportunities. At each turn, you have the opportunity to hit the reset button and reinvent who you will be. I believed we had the opportunity to redefine WarnerMedia as a leader in equity and inclusion. I was fortunate to have two CEOs, John Stanke and Jason Killar, and a partner in HR leader, Jim Cummings, who believed that focusing on E&I was not just the right thing to do, but a strategy that would enable us to get profits. . In the market. The investment we made in building the strongest Equity + Inclusion team in the industry and changing our collective approach has resulted in the most diverse and inclusive workforce, content and storytellers this company has had for nearly a century of existence. .

Jason Killard convinced me to lead the Communications Organization in 2020 and I can now confirm what many doubt: this is the most outstanding communications team in business. Along with other accomplishments, he has partnered with our legacy companies to build a cohesive team, creating incredible press coverage for the global launch of HBO Max. Office success, record number of nominations and awards, opening of theater productions across the world, announcement of major sporting events, launch games, strengthen our equity + inclusion efforts, ensuring our ranking as the most innovative companies in 2022 by Fast Company (# 1 in the film and TV category) and contributed to maintain CNN’s global news leadership and the recent launch of CNN +. During an unprecedented time, we have found a way to care for each other and also support the efforts of our nonprofit partners who have supported communities around the world. To achieve all this under any circumstances would be fate. Doing this in incredibly stressful conditions, a pandemic and constant change is extraordinary.

I understand that today’s news can be disturbing in times of this uncertainty. But I want to remind you of the main thing we’ve learned in recent years: that this organization is practically unstoppable and you can’t change the momentum it generates. I am very proud of you and immensely grateful to you and all that you have achieved. Above all, I hope it carries everything forward.

On a personal level, this journey was the pinnacle of my career. Your talent honors him and your friendship makes him happy.

cristia