CNN Executive Vice President Ken Jautz is leaving the company after 36 years

Longtime CNN executive Ken Jautz is leaving the network after 36 years.

“Ken has decided he is ready for a new chapter and will be leaving CNN at the end of the year,” CEO Mark Thompson told employees in a memo Wednesday. “It’s difficult to capture the impact Ken has had on our brand.”

Jautz, who has held numerous leadership positions at CNN, HLN, CNNfn and its German-language subsidiary n-TV, was office manager in Frankfurt and Berlin, producer of international special events, and business development and sales manager for Turner International in London.

After returning to New York, he served as executive vice president of programming at CNN, executive vice president at HLN, executive vice president of operations, head of the Newsource affiliate business, and co-interim CEO following the ouster of Jeff Zucker in 2022 .

Jautz covered many international stories that helped put CNN on the map, including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. During the First Gulf War, he was instrumental in CNN becoming the first network to broadcast live coverage from a war zone. He also helped organize coverage of September 11, Hurricane Katrina and other domestic stories.

Additionally, Jautz played a critical role in CNN's move from the Time Warner Center to Hudson Yards in New York and from the CNN Center to Techwood in Atlanta. He also received the News Emmys Chairman's Award for his leadership in creating and implementing the protocols and procedures that enabled safe production at CNN during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Few people get the opportunity to help build a young brand into a global powerhouse,” Thompson’s memo concluded. “We thank Ken for his years of commitment and service to CNN and wish him much success, health and happiness in his next chapter.”

Following Jautz's departure, John Courtney and John Davies' operations groups and Paul Crum and Ed Stephen's Newsource teams will report to David Leavy, while Guy Pepper's graphics, design and lighting teams will move to Eric Sherling's programming organization.

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