Former Turner Broadcasting System Inc. executive Philip Kent will return to
the company as its chairman and CEO replacing Jamie Kellner, who'll leave
Atlanta to run Los Angeles-based The WB Television Network.
Kent, formerly president of Turner Broadcasting System International and CNN
News Group, will oversee CNN News Group; Turner's entertainment networks,
including Turner Network Television, TBS Superstation, Cartoon Network, Turner
Classic Movies, Turner South and Boomerang; and Turner Sports, as well as the
Turner Sports properties, which include the Atlanta Braves, Hawks and Thrashers
and Philips Arena.
Kent will report to AOL Time Warner entertainment and networks group chairman
Jeffrey Bewkes.
The announcement ends the nearly two-year reign of Kellner, who was appointed
in 2001 by then AOL Time Warner co-chief operating officer Bob Pittman to
oversee both The WB and Turner's cable networks.
Rumors of Kellner's departure first arose last July after an AOL Time Warner
executive restructuring that saw the ouster of Pittman left Kellner reporting to
Bewkes -- once an equal to Kellner during Bewkes' reign as Home Box Office
chairman and CEO.
At the time, Kellner doused rumors that he was unhappy with the new
entertainment structure.
Kellner, whose contract with AOL Time Warner runs out in 2004, will
concentrate his efforts solely on The WB, which he cofounded in
1994.
