Another Network News Chief Bites The Dust

Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews, who has served as president of CBS News since August, resigned Wednesday morning, just three days after the network’s parent company, Paramount, agreed to merge with the production company Skydance Media.

The Washington Post reports the announcement was sudden, if not unexpected, considering the many changes that are expected to come throughout CBS in the wake of the merger, including significant expected cost-cutting.

“We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made,” Ciprián-Matthews wrote in a memo to CBS News employees. “I do not want to be disingenuous with any of you about who should drive these decisions. I’ve always leaned into my integrity and my values and I felt it was important to be transparent at this juncture about my plans.”

Ciprián-Matthews will remain with the network through the election as a senior editorial adviser, “given the historical significance of this election and the current political moment.”

One of the network’s chief rivals, ABC News, is also in a state of extreme flux with just four months to go before the presidential election. Kim Godwin resigned as president of the network in May, and her deputy, Stacia Deshishku, followed her out the door last month.

Ciprián-Matthews has worked at CBS News since 1993. In her memo, she said she plans to “write [her] next chapter,” but did not share further details.