Warner Bros. Discovery Announces Post-Split Company Names, Executive Leadership Teams
DAVID ZASLAV WARNER BROS PRESIDENT/CEO — PHOTO COURTESY OF ART STREIBER
The media giant unveils new corporate identities and leadership lineups for Warner Bros. and Discovery Global, ahead of a planned 2026 separation.
Warner Bros. Discovery has officially announced the names and executive leadership teams for its post-split structure, set to take effect in mid-2026. The move will divide the company into two new publicly traded entities: Warner Bros. and Discovery Global.
Warner Bros., dubbed the “Streaming & Studios” arm, will include marquee assets such as Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Television, and Warner Bros. Gaming. According to the company, the name pays homage to over a century of storytelling and studio legacy.
Discovery Global, meanwhile, will house TV networks, the Discovery+ streaming service, CNN, TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, and a wide array of international channels. The name reflects its longstanding global brand recognition across entertainment, news, and sports.
The Warner Bros. company will be led by current WBD CEO David Zaslav, while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will take the reins at Discovery Global.
“This move honors our legacy and positions us for the future,” Zaslav said in a statement. “With our unmatched creative partners and strategic focus, Warner Bros. is ready to define the next era of storytelling.”
In contrast, Wiedenfels emphasized Discovery Global’s operational strength and global footprint: “Our leading portfolio of brands, global reach, and proven leadership team set the stage for strong growth and innovation across the world.”
Warner Bros. Executive Team Post-Split:
David Zaslav, President & CEO
Pam Abdy & Mike De Luca, Co-Chairs & CEOs, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group
JB Perrette, CEO & President, Streaming and Games
Casey Bloys, Chairman & CEO, HBO & HBO Max
James Gunn & Peter Safran, Co-Chairmen & CEOs, DC Studios
Bruce Campbell, COO
Channing Dungey, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. Television
Priya Aiyar, Chief Legal Officer
Robert Gibbs, Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer
Lori Locke, Chief Accounting Officer
Avi Saxena, Chief Technology Officer
Discovery Global Executive Team:
Gunnar Wiedenfels, President & CEO
Fraser Woodford, CFO
David Duvall, CTO
Amy Girdwood, Chief People & Culture Officer
Ryan Gould, President, U.S. Ad Sales GTM
Anil Jhingan, Chief Development Officer
Kasia Kieli, President & MD, Poland, TVN CEO
Fernando Medin, President, International
Scott Miller, President, Distribution
Fulvia Nicoli, EVP, Content Strategy & Insights
Brian Rauch, Chief Accounting Officer
Luis Silberwasser, Chairman & CEO, TNT Sports
Mark Thompson, Chairman & CEO, CNN Worldwide
Sue Underwald, Chief Legal Officer
Bobby Voltaggio, President, U.S. Ad Sales Platform Monetization
The split largely unwinds Discovery’s 2022 $43 billion acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T—restructuring the former Turner networks (CNN, TBS, TNT, truTV, Cartoon Network) into the Discovery Global fold.
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Both companies are in the process of finalizing key hires, including CFO and HR leads for Warner Bros. and a Chief Communications Officer for Discovery Global. As Zaslav’s compensation is set to decrease, Wiedenfels’ will increase to reflect his expanded leadership role.
As media consolidation evolves, this separation marks one of the most significant restructurings in recent entertainment history—and a reset of how legacy brands prepare to compete in a shifting streaming-first ecosystem.