The executive, who has led Warner Bros. Discovery’s international business since 2022, informed employees of his departure. His exit comes as the combined group reshapes its international operations following the merger.
Gerhard Zeiler is set to leave Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) following its integration with Skydance, bringing an end to nearly 15 years in leadership roles across the organization. The executive confirmed his departure in a message to employees, stating that he would leave the company at the end of the following week.
The move comes amid a broader restructuring of the combined group’s leadership as it reorganizes its international operations following the merger of Paramount and WBD. Kevin MacLellan, who oversaw Paramount’s international business and global content distribution, has also been confirmed to be leaving the company.
No permanent successor has yet been announced to lead the combined international business. JB Perrette, Skydance’s co-president and head of streaming and TV, oversees streaming and network operations outside the US, although the group has yet to outline the definitive management structure across its international markets.
Zeiler became president of international at WBD in 2022, following the combination of WarnerMedia and Discovery. Before that, he led WarnerMedia International and Turner International, overseeing television and entertainment operations across multiple markets.
He joined Turner in 2012 after serving as CEO of RTL Group. Throughout his career, Zeiler has been involved in major corporate transformations, international expansion and the adaptation of traditional television businesses to an increasingly streaming-driven market.
In his farewell message, the executive acknowledged the work of international teams during a period marked by strategic shifts and mounting demands across linear television, digital platforms and third-party content distribution.
His departure also comes as Zeiler considers a return to Austrian politics. He had expressed interest in competing for the leadership of Austria’s Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), before subsequently backing another candidate within the party.
Zeiler’s exit therefore marks a new chapter in both his professional career and the restructuring of one of the global entertainment industry’s major players, as Skydance continues to define the combined company’s international leadership and operating model.
