Embattled CBS News co-president Neeraj Khemlani, whose two-year cost-cutting reign was marked by clashes with high-profile anchors and HR complaints, is leaving the community.
The shock shakeup was confirmed by CBS brass shortly after the New York Post revealed a narrative on-line Sunday that the mercurial community chief had been calling confidantes to inform them he’s out.
Rumors of his exit hit a fever pitch final week after The Post ran an unique story on July 30 that Khemlani was being monitored by an HR govt after a slew of complaints for his alleged “bullying, rude” habits.
Khemlani’s schedule for this week had been cleared regardless of the actual fact he was slated to return Monday from a week-long household trip in Europe, sources with data instructed The Post.
CBS had deliberate to announce a restructuring on Monday, one other insider instructed The Post.
The Post’s report of his impending departure apparently moved up these plans. Khemlani, whose three-year contract expires subsequent spring, despatched a memo to CBS News staffers on Sunday saying plans to start a brand new stage of his profession.
“(I am) looking forward to slipping my reporter’s notebook back into my pocket and heading out on a new adventure,” he mentioned in his farewell to staffers, which was obtained by The Post.
Khemlani — who was accountable for prized applications that embrace “CBS Evening News” “60 Minutes, “CBS Mornings” and “Face the Nation” — will now search to develop content material in a brand new multi-year, first-look cope with CBS, based on the memo.
CBS CEO George Cheeks, who introduced within the divisive community chief, despatched out a memo to employees confirming Khemlani’s departure and mentioned the 2 had been discussing “his potential transition for some time.”
Representatives for CBS and Khemlani didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Sources have pointed to Wendy McMahon, Khemlani’s co-president who runs the CBS Television Stations and CBS News Digital divisions, because the front-runner to take over his duties for operating the News division,
The restructuring will probably title deputies who will report back to McMahon, the insider mentioned.
Khemlani’s downfall comes after stories surfaced that he blew up at Chief Financial Officer Stacey Benson and one other feminine govt on her workforce throughout a funds assembly in April.
Since taking the reins in May 2021, Khemlani — a former Hearst govt — has been beneath “immense pressure” from Cheeks to hit sure funds numbers, insiders mentioned.
He instantly clashed with “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell over contract issues, The Post reported.
Khemlani’s flamable mood, in the meantime, reportedly translated to plunging morale amongst CBS News staffers, who’ve described their boss as “rude” and “micro-managing.”
As beforehand reported by The Post, these complaints have led to a bigger inner assessment headed by CBS company HR exec Whitney Delich.
The assessment, which started in 2022, was targeted on how Khemlani speaks to ladies and staff of coloration.
Prior to the investigation, Singaporean-born Khemlani had been subjected to a “360 performance review” by his bosses and direct stories, which resulted in necessary counseling on the right way to communicate to staff “without sarcasm” whereas utilizing “friendly body language,” a number of sources mentioned on the time.
Khemlani made no point out of any onerous emotions in his memo to employees Sunday.
“We maintained the #1 position of our iconic weekend programs, successfully developed and launched business plans to grow digital revenue that will sustain CBS News for the next generation, and elevated and promoted so many of the people who work here day after day to deliver on our journalistic mission,” Khemlani wrote in his memo.
“I’m so proud of what all of you have accomplished — the scores of journalistic wins, the superb storytelling, the creativity that enhanced every aspect of our programming — that has put this division on a stronger path forward.”
Khemlani “put new business plans in place to drive more revenue, which is essential in a challenging environment for all media companies,” Cheeks mentioned in his memo.
Khemlani’s cost-cutting was seen by some as a doable path to spin off the community as its mother or father Paramount Global
PARA,
— which additionally owns Paramount Pictures, Showtime, MTV and Nickelodeon, amongst others — focuses on streaming.
Source web site: www.marketwatch.com
