Dive Brief:
- Warner Bros. Discovery, which is expected to be split into two companies next year, said Wednesday that finance veteran Brad Singer will assume the role of CFO of Warner Bros., which will be formed as a result of the separation.
- Singer most recently served as partner and chief operating officer of ValueAct Capital before retiring in 2021, during which time he also served on the boards of Rolls-Royce Holdings and Motorola Solutions. He also previously served as CFO of Discovery Communications, a predecessor to Warner Bros. Discovery, before the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery in 2022.
- “Brad was instrumental in driving significant value creation and growth during our time together at Discovery Communications, and I’m thrilled to be reuniting with a trusted leader whose financial expertise and strategic vision have consistently delivered results,” David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a press release.
Dive Insight:
The appointment follows Warner Bros. Discovery’s announcement in June that it plans to separate into two publicly traded companies, a streaming and studios business consisting of Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, and HBO Max, and a “global networks” entity that includes entertainment, sports and news television brands such as CNN, TNT Sports in the U.S., and Discovery, as well as digital products such as the Discovery+ streaming service.
Zaslav is set to become president and CEO of the new Warner Bros. entity. Gunnar Wiedenfels, CFO of Warner Bros. Discovery, will serve as president and CEO of the global networks business. Both are expected to continue in their present roles until the separation.
The separation is expected to be completed by mid-2026, subject to closing conditions.
While serving as CFO of Discovery Communications, Singer played a key role in taking the company public in 2008, according to the Wednesday release. He currently serves as board member of Warby Parker on the audit and compensation committees, as well as Sweetgreen, where he has chaired the audit committee since 2021.
He will begin his new position in October in a “strategic role” until the official formation of Warner Bros., the release said.
