CNN’s boss will remain as Paramount and WBD merge into Skydance

<figure> <img alt="A photo of CNN CEO Mark Thompson " data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/gettyimages-2153092202.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">CNN CEO Mark Thompson will remain at the head of the news network when Paramount's $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition closes this week. Thompson wrote in a memo to employees that he believes the combined company will "fully support the principle and practice of the kind of independent news that CNN has always stood for," according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/business/cnn-mark-thompson-ellison-paramount-skydance.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share">a report from <em>The New York Times</em></a>. The news <a href="https://www.paramount.com/press/david-ellison-and-ynon-kreiz-announce-their-ceo-leadership-team-for-skydance-following-anticipated-close-of-warner-bros-discovery-acquisition">comes as part of an announcement</a> detailing the combined company's executive leadership.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Paramount CEO David Ellison will lead the companies - <a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/1004016/paramount-warner-bros-skydance-megamerger-name">to be called Skydance</a> - <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/1003037/paramount-david-ellison-co-ceo-ynon-kriez">alongside former Mattel head Ynon Kreiz</a>. Speculation about what would become of CNN swirle …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/1004734/cnn-ceo-mark-thompson-paramount-warner-bros">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>