WarnerMedia on Friday announced a major reorganization that elevates streaming executive Andy Forssell to oversee the company’s global direct-to-consumer business, including HBO Max, reporting directly to new CEO Jason Kilar.
The new structure, which resulted in the departure of two top entertainment executives, also streamlines programming of its networks, studio and HBO Max under Warner Bros. head Ann Sarnoff.
The reorganization is the first major move by Kilar in repositioning the traditional entertainment company to be able to better compete with Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. Kilar hopes that the new company structure will allow WarnerMedia to move faster, he said in a memo to employees. The news that Kilar was expected to promote Forssell and unveil a slew of executive changes was first reported by The Information.