Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD, Financial) just pulled a classic power move. On Friday, the media giant announced that John Malone—yes, the cable cowboy himself—is stepping down from the board and moving into a new role as chair emeritus. Translation? He's giving up the formalities but keeping the influence. Malone will no longer vote, but he's not riding off into the sunset. Instead, he's doubling down as Zaslav's closest consigliere, attending board meetings and helping steer the strategic ship, just without the paperwork.
This change didn't happen in a vacuum. In March, WBD brought on private equity heavyweight Anton Levy, following pressure from activist investor Sessa Capital, which has quietly built a stake and is calling for faster restructuring. That makes three new board additions in just a few months—Levy, Anthony Noto, and Joey Levin—all aimed at injecting urgency and fresh eyes. Malone, for his part, praised Zaslav's leadership and the company's pivot toward profitability, saying WBD is “more resilient, agile, and positioned for growth” than ever.
Zaslav, meanwhile, isn't hiding the impact Malone's had. Calling him one of the sharpest strategic minds in media, Zaslav credits Malone's vision with helping WBD navigate a brutal industry reset. With the board now at 13 members and a fresh mix of capital markets and digital expertise, WBD seems poised for bold moves ahead. Whether that's a spin-off, restructuring, or unlocking value through its vast content portfolio—Malone may no longer have a vote, but make no mistake, he still has a say.
