David Ellison presents the leadership team of Skydance

Following the $110 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery on Tuesday, CNN CEO Mark Thompson will continue to hold senior positions inside the news network under the Skydance-led organization. Which is overseen by David Ellison.

According to a Monday announcement from Paramount, Bari Weiss, his counterpart at CBS News, will also keep her job. Both will answer to CEO Ellison and recently hired co-CEO Ynon Kreiz.

This distinct reporting structure allays worries that Weiss, who became top editor of CBS News in 2025. Would have more authority over every aspect of Skydance’s news operations.

Ellison and Thompson had discussed a new contract in recent weeks that would keep the CNN president and editor-in-chief in their positions. But they had not come to an agreement on the conditions.

According to an internal document seen by Reuters, Thompson informed CNN employees on Monday that he will lead «with the same responsibilities and prerogatives» he has had up to this point. However, specifics about how CNN will function inside the new organization have not yet been established.

Thompson wrote in the message that he had «genuine confidence» that the incoming management will «fully support the principle and practice of the kind of independent journalism that CNN has always championed.»

Ellison had consented to create an editorial independence board to manage CNN and CBS News as part of a deal with a group of twelve U.S. states and a Hollywood writers’ organization.

Andy Gordon, the chief operational officer of Paramount, was appointed president of Skydance, and Dennis Cinelli, the chief financial officer, will continue to hold the position.

George Cheeks will co-lead Skydance’s recently established television division. While Casey Bloys, the head of HBO, will take over as chief content officer for the company’s direct-to-consumer segment.