CNN CEO Chris Licht to step down

Licht will be replaced for an interim period by longtime CNN executive Amy Entelis.

The news comes after Licht’s rocky tenure as CEO, a widely criticized town hall with former President Donald Trump and a sweeping Atlantic profile on the CEO.

Licht was only in the position for a little over a year, with his tenure being marked by the shuttering of the streaming service CNN+, rock-bottom ratings and news stories about the CEO that called into question his leadership. Licht apologized to staffers Monday morning for the unflattering Atlantic profile.

Licht also oversaw the rollout of “CNN This Morning” co-anchored by Don Lemon, who was fired in April.

“This job was never going to be easy, especially at a time of great disruption and transformation, and Chris poured his heart and soul into it. He has a deep love for journalism and this business and that has been evident throughout his tenure,” Zaslav said in the email.

The news of Licht’s departure was first reported by Puck.