Jeff Zucker Has CNN Exit Plan

CNN’s Jeff Zucker will depart the company after 2021, he told staffers Thursday.

According to The Wrap citing multiple sources with knowledge, the CNN president confirmed in a morning editorial call that he will stay in his role for the duration of his contract, meaning he will be there through the year.

Jeff Zucker

This comes amid speculation about his future — and, thus, CNN’s future — and about his potential political ambitions. He was expected to step down early this year, and, per people familiar with Thursday’s call, admitted he was considering it before changing his mind.

Zucker’s decision to stay coincides with some major wins for the network. CNN had its most-watched month ever in January and was the top cable news network across the board as a result, according to Nielsen Media Research ratings TheWrap reported earlier this week.

In a month defined by the Capitol riots that left multiple people dead, the second impeachment of outgoing president Donald Trump and the inauguration of President Joe Biden, CNN averaged 1.907 million total viewers in total-day ratings, of whom 531,000 were in the advertiser-coveted age demographic of 25 to 54.

Known as a hands-on leader who frequently watches CNN’s prime time programs from the control room, Zucker joined the network in 2013 after making his reputation at NBC, where he was executive producer of NBC’s Today before jumping to president of NBC Entertainment.

The NYTimes quotes CNN anchor Jake Tapper as saying of Zucker, “he’s the best boss I ever had, and it’s not even close. I’m glad we get him for another year.”