In a surprise move, Warner Bros. Discovery‘s head of advertising sales Jon Steinlauf will exit the company later this year.
WBD chief revenue and strategy officer Bruce Campbell announced Steinlauf’s looming exit Friday, telling staff that “I have news to share that may come as a surprise to many of you.”
“Jon is one of the industry’s most respected and well-known ad sales executives and has had an incredible career here at WBD through the major mergers, transformations, and industry pivots,” Campbell added after announcing his exit. “He’s been a critical part of our leadership at the company, and someone both David and I have come to rely on for many years.”
WBD is now beginning a search for Steinlauf’s successor, with the executive remaining in the role for the time being until the company lands on a new head of ad sales.
“I have had the privilege of representing this great portfolio of brands for the last 32 years – at Turner, Scripps, Discovery and now at WBD. I’m grateful for the opportunities that David Zaslav, Bruce Campbell, and other leaders have given to me. This is the right time to begin a new chapter both personally and professionally,” Steinlauf wrote to staff. “It is incredible to look back at my early years at ESPN, and the birth of cable, to see how the business has grown and transformed.”
Steinlauf exits the company as the TV business is at a pivot point. Streaming video platforms (including WBD’s Max) have all pushed into advertising in recent years, hoping to offset declines at linear TV. Steinlauf and WBD have long pushed the value of linear however. Given the state of the industry, however, it is clear that streaming is where most ad dollars will eventually flow.