Variety: CNN Chief Digital Officer Athan Stephanopoulos to Exit

Story from Variety:

Athan Stephanopoulos will leave his role as chief digital officer of CNN as the news outlet’s new chief starts to implement his strategic vision for the Warner Bros. Discovery property.

In a memo issued Wednesday, Stephanopoulos said that Mark Thompson, CNN”s new chief, “had his own vision of how he wanted digital operations to be organized. In order to give him the freest hand possible to structure and shape the organization moving forward, I felt that now was the best time for me to step back from my role and move on to a new chapter. I sincerely wish CNN and each of you great success in the path ahead.”

This marks the second turnover of digital executives at CNN since Warner Bros. Discovery took over management of the operation as part of its purchase of WarnerMedia assets from AT&T in August of 2022. In June of 2022, CNN parted ways with executives like Alex MacCallum and Robyn Peterson, both of whom had been involved in the launch of the ill-fated subscription video hub CNN+.

Stephanopoulos, a digital entrepreneur who is also first cousin to ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, came aboard CNN in October of 2022, under the aegis of Thompson’s predecessor, Chris Licht. Thompson is widely expected to place a new spotlight on CNN’s digital and streaming businesses in hopes of expanding the network’s profile as viewers move away from linear cable TV.

Stephanopoulos had served as president of the digital-news outlet NowThis, which caters to Generation Z and millennial audience. He supervised editorial, revenue, product and technology strategy, audience development and data insights, and guided the company as it was acquired by Group Nine Media and, subsequently, when Group Nine was purchased by Vox Media in early 2022.

"Since his arrival, Athan has been a strong and capable leader of our digital team and a collaborative colleague across the organization,” Thompson said in a statement. ”I know that everyone who’s worked alongside him at CNN will want to join me in thanking him for everything he’s done for us and to wish him every success in his next chapter.”

Stephanopoulos is expected to stay at CNN through the end of January.