John Malone to Step Back from Warner Bros. Discovery Board, Will Serve as Chairman Emeritus

April 11, 2025 — Media titan John Malone, a longtime force in the cable television industry, has announced he will not seek re-election to the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) board of directors. Instead, the 84-year-old will transition into the honorary role of chairman emeritus, the company confirmed on Friday.

According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Malone's decision was amicable and not the result of any dispute. He plans to remain closely involved with the company in an advisory capacity.

“I’m excited to continue contributing as both a key shareholder and in my new role, especially as the company explores significant strategic and structural initiatives,” Malone said in a statement.

Malone has been a central figure in shaping WBD’s current trajectory. A pivotal player in the 2022 merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, he helped steer the company through a rapidly shifting media landscape driven by the rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix.

Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to split its traditional pay-TV networks—like CNN—from its streaming and studio units. This move is widely viewed as a preparatory step for a potential sale or spinoff of the linear TV division, a signal that the company is continuing to adapt to changing consumer behaviors and investor expectations.

Malone, who held approximately 0.8% of WBD stock as of 2024 (based on LSEG data), has been a key presence on the board since joining Discovery in 2008 and remaining through the post-merger evolution of the company.

Outside of Warner Bros. Discovery, Malone is renowned for his decades-long influence on the U.S. media landscape. He is credited with building the Liberty Media empire and orchestrating a series of complex deals that reshaped the pay-TV industry.

In a separate move, Warner Bros. Discovery recently announced the addition of Anton Levy from General Atlantic as an independent director. Levy is known for spearheading investments in high-profile companies like Airbnb and Uber.

According to The Wall Street Journal, this board expansion follows pressure from hedge fund Sessa Capital, which recently acquired roughly a 1% stake in WBD. However, the company emphasized that Levy’s nomination was internally driven.

Following these changes, Warner Bros. Discovery’s board will now consist of 13 members, 12 of whom are classified as independent directors.