Turner Broadcasting CEO and Former CAP Chairman Phil Kent Stepping Down

July 17,2013

Phil Kent, chairman and chief executive officer at Turner Broadcasting System Inc. and former CAP Board Chairman told colleagues Wednesday he will not renew his contract with the company when it ends next year.

Kent said his decision followed many conversations with Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes over long-term leadership planning for Turner, a company started by cable TV pioneer Ted Turner but is now a division of Time Warner.

Chief Financial Officer John Martin will assume the title of CEO at Turner in January. Kent will remain chairman during a transition period next year

“Nothing changes for me or any of you until then,” Kent told colleagues. “ I’ll come in tomorrow and be on the job with the same enthusiasm as today, just as I know you will.“

Bewkes praised Kent’s leadership at Turner, which also operates CNN, TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and truTV.

”At Phil’s initiation, he and I agreed that now is the right time to announce the next generation of leadership, and I am pleased that he will serve as chairman,” Bewkes said.

-Courtesy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution