# Skydance Names CNN and CBS Execs to Leadership

> CNN's Mark Thompson and CBS News' Bari Weiss join Skydance leadership after Paramount-WBD merger.
- Title: Skydance Names CNN and CBS Execs to Leadership · Adweek
- Summary: CNN's Mark Thompson and CBS News' Bari Weiss join Skydance leadership after Paramount-WBD merger. skydance, mark thompson, bari weiss · reported by Adweek.
- Keywords: skydance, mark thompson, bari weiss, paramount skydance, warner bros discovery, cnn, cbs news, david ellison, yonon kreiz, Names, CBS, Execs
- Source: Adweek — https://adweek.com/tvnewser/cnns-mark-thompson-and-cbs-news-bari-weiss-named-to-skydance-leadership-team
- Author: Mark Mwachiro
- Published: 2026-10-05T18:44:03+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: skydance, mark thompson, bari weiss, paramount skydance, warner bros discovery, cnn, cbs news, david ellison, yonon kreiz
## Skydance Announces Leadership Team
Skydance, the incoming owners of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, named CNN's Mark Thompson and CBS News' Bari Weiss to its CEO Leadership Team.
## Thompson and Weiss Continue Roles
Thompson will stay as CNN Worldwide chairman and editor-in-chief, while Weiss remains CBS News' editor-in-chief, both in positions they assumed in October 2025.
## Merger Deadline Approaches
The Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery merger is expected to close on Tuesday, October 6, after which Thompson and Weiss will report to David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz.
## Thompson's Confidence in New Leadership
Thompson told staff in a memo he has confidence in Ellison and Kreiz, stating they will support CNN's independent news principles and he will continue as an independent editor-in-chief.
## Unclear Editorial Integration
It remains unclear how CNN and CBS News will function once corporate siblings, or how their editorial independence boards will coexist under new ownership.
## Skydance Leadership Team Expansion
Skydance also named Casey Bloys, George Cheeks, JB Perrette, Dana Goldberg, Josh Greenstein, James Gunn, and Peter Safran to key leadership roles across its businesses.
## Key takeaway

CNN's Mark Thompson and CBS News' Bari Weiss remain editors-in-chief under new Skydance ownership following Paramount-WBD merger.