Warner Bros. Discovery is poised to unveil a game-changing appointment, naming former White House Press Secretary to President Barack Obama, Robert Gibbs, as its new Communications Chief. As confirmed by Variety, the announcement is expected to be made official on Monday, with insiders revealing that WBD Chief David Zaslav has already briefed his direct reports on the exciting news.
Gibbs will step into the shoes of Nathaniel Brown, the former Corporate Communications Chief who gracefully exited the company in January. Gibbs will collaborate closely with Zaslav, shaping the company's corporate messaging and strategizing in various arenas. The hunt for Brown's successor was a meticulous six-month process, as Zaslav was determined to land a big name for the role. Sources close to the matter reveal that Zaslav is thrilled with his choice.
Gibbs boasts a illustrious career, having served as a long-time senior advisor to Obama and occupying the post of Press Secretary from 2009 to 2011. He later held the reins as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications Officer at McDonald's, from 2015 to 2019. His most recent stint was as a partner at the renowned communications firm Bully Pulpit International, where he hosted the popular podcast "Hacks on Tap" alongside David Axelrod and Mike Murphy.
Brown's tenure at Discovery Inc., which began in 2019, was marked by his astute navigation of the merger between the company and WarnerMedia, ultimately culminating in the formation of Warner Bros. Discovery in April 2022. His departure from Warner Bros. Discovery was a mutual decision between him and Zaslav, according to sources who spoke to Variety at the time.
"We are diligently searching, both internally and externally, for a new Communications leader, and we will keep you updated once a candidate has been selected," Zaslav wrote in a memo to staffers at the time. "In the meantime, I have entrusted our Head of Executive Communications, Laura Watson, and the Head of Comms for Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, Katie Martin Kelley, to oversee corporate communications on an interim basis."
Among the early challenges awaiting Gibbs will be the fate of the NBA on WBD's TNT. The conglomerate's exclusive negotiating window to renew media rights expired in April, and recent rumors suggest that WBD is lobbying for a scaled-down deal that could potentially keep some games on TNT. Additionally, this summer marks a milestone for WBD and Disney as they are poised to launch a streaming bundle, combining Max, Disney+, and Hulu, offering viewers an unparalleled entertainment experience.
