Warner Bros. Discovery struggled all through 2024, however there have been few headwinds for Chief Government David Zaslav’s pay bundle, which elevated to just about $52 million.
The lofty compensation plan — which swelled 4% from the earlier yr — maintains Zaslav’s standing as some of the handsomely paid executives in America, forward of his Hollywood counterparts. Walt Disney Co. Chief Government Bob Iger, who runs a a lot bigger enterprise, was paid $41 million final yr.
Warner Bros. Discovery launched its annual proxy assertion Friday, revealing huge modifications coming to its board. In a putting transfer, Zaslav’s mentor — the cable tv pioneer John Malone — introduced plans to step down as a voting member. Zaslav has labored for Malone for 18 years and Malone has been extremely influential.
Malone will keep on in a newly created place of Chair Emeritus.
The 84-year-old billionaire will attend Warner Bros. Discovery‘s board meetings and “provide strategic counsel and support to the board and management team,” according to a statement. The change will take effect with the board elections in June, as part of the company’s yearly assembly of shareholders.
John C. Malone, chairman of Liberty Media and CEO of Discovery Holding Firm, attends the Allen & Firm Solar Valley Convention in Solar Valley, Idaho, Thursday, July 12, 2012.
(Paul Sakuma / AP)
Warner Bros. Discovery has attracted curiosity from activist shareholders as the corporate’s inventory languishes. Shares sank final spring when traders sensed that Warner Bros. Discovery would quit the rights to the Nationwide Basketball Assn. for its TNT channel.
The corporate, which has dozens of cable channels, has been punished amid Wall Avenue’s recognition of the diminishing prospects for that when vastly worthwhile enterprise. Final summer season, the corporate took a $9 billion write-down to replicate the decrease worth of these primary cable channels.
The inventory is down 55% because the smaller cable channel firm, Discovery, run by Zaslav and Malone, swallowed the a lot bigger WarnerMedia, which incorporates HBO, CNN, TBS and the prolific Burbank studios. The inventory was punished once more this month amid market turmoil over President Trump’s tariffs.
The inventory was buying and selling Friday round $7.80 a share.
Earlier, the corporate had introduced the Warner Bros. Discovery board would enhance to 14 board administrators with the addition of Levy. Now, with Malone’s resolution this week to not stand for reelection, the corporate stated the board would stay at 13 members.
Malone’s “decision not to stand for re-election was not the result of any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to the company’s operation, policies or practices,” the corporate stated in a regulatory submitting.
“It has been a privilege to serve on the Warner Bros. Discovery Board and work alongside David and his exceptional team to help guide the company through an industry-defining merger and its ongoing transformation,” Malone stated in an announcement.
Zaslav additionally gave props to his boss.
“John possesses one of the most brilliant strategic minds our industry has ever known,” Zaslav stated in an announcement.
Not like many different media executives, Zaslav’s compensation bundle is just not wholly tied to firm efficiency. He acquired $3 million base wage, almost $24 million in money incentives, $23 million in inventory awards and $2 million in different compensation, in accordance with the proxy.
Chief Monetary Officer Gunnar Wiedenfels acquired $17 million in compensation, about flat from the earlier yr. Chief Income and Technique Officer Bruce L. Campbell garnered $19.8 million, up 8% from 2023. Streaming Chief Government Jean-Briac Perrette acquired $19.7 million, down barely from the earlier yr.
