CNN has appointed Mark Thompson as its new CEO and chairman.

The parent company is Warner Bros. Following the ouster of Chris Licht, Discovery announced Wednesday that Thompson will lead the network going forward.

Previously, Thompson served as president and CEO of The New York Times from 2012 to 2020, and as director-general of the BBC from 2004 to 2012. In a memo to CNN staffers, Thompson announced his first day at the company would be Oct. 9.

‘I am confident he is the perfect leader for CNN at this pivotal time,’ Warner Bros. A note from Discovery CEO David Zaslav was sent to staff on Wednesday. I want to thank all of you for your patience, commitment, and hard work. CNN’s real strength is its people, and you continue to set the highest standard in all that you do.”

As the presidential campaign cycle in the U.S. accelerates, Thompson, a 40-year news veteran recently knighted for his services in media, is appointed.

With cord cutting ramping up and ratings lagging behind other cable news competitors, Thompson takes the helm at CNN. It was announced last week that Warner Bros. Beginning Sept. 27, Discovery will add CNN to its Max streaming service. The network will use it as a 24/7 live news hub as an alternative to streaming.

There is no doubt that TV journalism is approaching a peak of disruption. Everywhere we look, we face pressure – structurally, politically, culturally, etc. Recently, CNN has felt some of the uncertainty and heartache that comes with all of that,” Thompson wrote to CNN staff. There is no magic wand I or anyone else can use to put an end to this disruption.