Chris Licht’s tenure as the head of CNN came to an abrupt end on Wednesday, just over a year after assuming the position.
As the network searches for a permanent replacement, a group of three editorial executives – Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, and Eric Sherling – will manage CNN on an interim basis. They will receive support from the recently appointed Chief Operating Officer, David Leavy.
Amy Entelis, 72, is a seasoned cable news executive who has been with CNN since 2012. Currently serving as the Executive Vice President for Talent and Content Development, Entelis is responsible for overseeing CNN’s documentary series and films, as well as recruitment for on-air talent.
She played a key role in the network’s recent Academy Award win for the documentary Navalny, which focuses on the imprisoned Russian dissident Aleksei A. Navalny. However, her division underwent downsizing as part of cost-cutting measures implemented by Chris Licht, who announced that CNN would cease purchasing original TV series and documentaries, according to The New York Times.
Virginia Moseley, 61, holds the position of Executive Vice President of Editorial at CNN. In this role, she oversees news gathering for television and digital platforms across the United States. Moseley joined CNN’s Washington bureau ten years ago as a deputy and was promoted to her current position in July 2022 by Chris Licht.
She is responsible for managing all U.S. bureaus and crafting coverage plans for reporting teams, including those covering the White House and Congress. Moseley previously worked at ABC News for 18 years, serving as a senior Washington producer for Good Morning America. She is married to Thomas R. Nides, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Eric Sherling, 48, has spent the majority of his career at CNN and currently serves as the Executive Vice President for U.S. Programming. He is responsible for overseeing all live programs, including morning shows, prime time, and special events.
Sherling, who has received Emmy, Peabody, and Edward R. Murrow awards, played a pivotal role in the launch of CNN News Central, a daytime news program initiated under Chris Licht’s direction. Prior to his current position, Sherling led Washington programming and oversaw the launch of The Lead With Jake Tapper. He initially worked at CNN for nine years as Wolf Blitzer’s executive producer before a brief two-year stint at ABC’s Good Morning America. Sherling returned to CNN in 2011.
David Leavy, 53, was recently appointed as CNN’s Chief Operating Officer, indicating growing concerns about Chris Licht’s leadership. Leavy has worked for Discovery, now Warner Bros Discovery, for over two decades, most recently as the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. He served as a trusted deputy to David Zaslav, the company’s CEO. While taking on his new role at CNN,
Leavy will continue overseeing public policy and social responsibility at Warner Bros. Discovery. Earlier in his career, he served as a spokesman for the National Security Council and a deputy press secretary for foreign affairs during the Clinton administration.
