HLN chief Scot Safon is leaving the network at the end of August, a CNN spokeswoman confirmed. CNN/U.S. executive vice president Ken Jautz will oversee the channel in the interim.
Safon is a 22-year veteran of Turner, spending the past 11 years at HLN and 11 years at TNT before that. His exit is just one move in a larger restructuring by CNN Worldwide chief Jeff Zucker, which he outlined in a memo to staff on Wednesday.
Bloomberg head of U.S. Television Andrew Morse is joining the network as senior vice president of CNN/U.S. overseeing domestic newsgathering and digital editorial efforts. Now Meredith Artley and the digital editorial team, Terence Burke and the domestic newsgathering operation, and Sam Feist and the DC programming team will all report to Morse.
Tony Maddox, who had some oversight of newsgathering, will now focus solely on international operations, including CNN International and CNN en Espanol. Senior vice president Michael Bass will add oversight of New York and Atlanta based programming with morning executive producer Jim Murphy, vice president of programming Janelle Rodriguez and the primetime executive producers reporting to him.
Amy Entelis, senior vice president of talent and program development will now report directly to Zucker and Fox News’ Nancy Duffy will join CNN as vice president of program development reporting to Entelis. Courtney Sexton is joining the network as senior director of CNN Films, reporting to Vinnie Malhotra.
All of the moves are effective Aug. 19.
