The manager vp and normal supervisor of Turner Basic Films, Pola Changnon, has opted to exit Warner Bros. Discovery.

Changnon has led TCM since 2020, however has been with the corporate for greater than 25 years. She introduced her resolution to depart the corporate in a memo to TCM workers Tuesday.

In one other word to workers Tuesday, WBD TV networks chief content material officer chief Kathleen Finch stated that Michael Ouweleen, the president of Grownup Swim, Cartoon Community, Discovery Household and Boomerang, will assume oversight of TCM. Ouweleen beforehand ran TCM.

Ouweleen will segue to the brand new place in the summertime after serving as interim head of Warners’ children, younger adults and classics division, which included oversight of Grownup Swim, Cartoon Community and Boomerang. Ouweleen had held the interim submit since November, when 15-year Warner Media staffer Christina Miller introduced her departure. She beforehand oversaw all three manufacturers in addition to Turner Basic Films.

“His huge expertise with the model and its mission will assist to make sure a seamless transition,” Finch wrote. “Michael shares our ardour for traditional movies and believes strongly in TCM’s important function in preserving and spotlighting iconic films for the following technology of cinephiles. He has full assist throughout WBD, and we look ahead to welcoming Michael again to the TCM workforce.”

The manager shake-up comes as WBD undergoes a spherical of cuts to its home networks workforce which can be described as a continuation of the cuts final yr. The cuts are stated to be smaller in scale than these cuts, although they embody one other notable TV government in Amy Introcaso-Davis, who led Discovery factual content material, together with programming for Discovery+ and Animal Planet.

As a part of the change, TCM is anticipated to be extra totally built-in into the remainder of WBD’s U.S. networks, which is able to promote its programming, and assist bolster TCM’s presence throughout the WBD portfolio.

“Whereas change is rarely straightforward and might create a way of uncertainty, I need to guarantee you that we stay totally dedicated to this enterprise, the TCM model, and its function to guard and have a good time culture-defining films,” Finch added. “As storytellers, that’s our legacy, and we’ll proceed bringing the historical past and influence of basic movies to life on-air and in different methods.”

The newest spherical of cuts comes as the complete leisure trade appears to be reevaluating its prices.

WBD underwent an preliminary spherical of layoffs shortly after the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger, wth subsequent rounds within the fall throughout the corporate, together with in its TV division and at CNN.

The corporate instructed buyers final yr that its whole restructuring prices may prime $1 billion.

In the meantime, Disney shed 7,000 jobs amid Bob Iger’s bigger company restructuring; and at Paramount the corporate shed 25 % of its home TV workforce beneath Chris McCarthy, together with the elimination of MTV Information.

Learn Finch’s memo to workers:

Expensive TCM Staff,

As you realize, Pola has determined to step down after greater than 15 years with the community and greater than 25 years with the corporate. Beneath her stewardship, TCM cemented its place because the dominant basic film model and a favourite amongst basic movie aficionados. We’re enormously grateful for her management and innovation through the years and want her nicely.

Michael Ouweleen, the President of Grownup Swim, Cartoon Community, Discovery Household and Boomerang, who beforehand oversaw TCM, will once more lead the community. His huge expertise with the model and its mission will assist to make sure a seamless transition. Michael shares our ardour for traditional movies and believes strongly in TCM’s important function in preserving and spotlighting iconic films for the following technology of cinephiles. He has full assist throughout WBD, and we look ahead to welcoming Michael again to the TCM workforce.

Whereas change is rarely straightforward and might create a way of uncertainty, I need to guarantee you that we stay totally dedicated to this enterprise, the TCM model, and its function to guard and have a good time culture-defining films. As storytellers, that’s our legacy, and we’ll proceed bringing the historical past and influence of basic movies to life on-air and in different methods.

Thanks on your dedication throughout this transitional interval, and – most significantly – thanks for all that you just proceed to do for TCM and the U.S. Networks Group.

Finest,
Kathleen

Learn Changnon’s memo:

To the TCM workforce:

Folks all the time say that TCM is a cheerful island amongst networks–and it’s true. Our distinct mission has attracted a passionate fanbase, amongst viewers and the movie-making neighborhood, nevertheless it has additionally attracted a stellar workforce who’ve constructed this model and impressed a singular esprit de corps.

I’m penning this word to share that my time has come to depart the island, however not as a result of I received bored with the coconuts or the right climate. The 16+ years I’ve spent working with the exceptional individuals at TCM (previous and current) have been essentially the most rewarding in my profession.

From my begin right here as inventive director and, in the end now, as Normal Supervisor of TCM, I’ve all the time felt extremely pleased with our ambition to create a community that actually honors and cherishes movie legacy. There may be an integrity and care that surges by every little thing we do, and the outcomes are value highlighting.

Collectively, we launched the TCM Basic Movie Competition in 2010, making a best-in-class, vacation spot movie competition for traditional film lovers from across the nation.  We subsequently added the TCM Basic Cruise and different unimaginable experiences that delivered the TCM promise in actual life. Within the throes of the pandemic, we launched our award-winning podcast The Plot Thickens which has created a brand new viewers for the compelling tales behind the flicks.

In 2016, we had been the primary Turner community to launch a direct-to-consumer product and I’m exceedingly pleased with FilmStruck and the mark it made in its lifespan. We created a brand new model and realized the streaming enterprise from the bottom up, delivering a uniquely curated, fashionable strategy to film presentation.

Programming like Re-Framed, 31 Days of Oscar, Observe the Thread, Summer season Beneath the Stars, Girls Make Movie, Race in Hollywood, The Necessities and a lot extra have contributed to our unflagging quest to have a good time this 100+ year-old trade with sensible curation and context, really dwelling as much as our tagline, The place Then Meets Now.

None of this may have been attainable with no powerhouse management workforce and I need to thank them: Charlie Tabesh, the daring and formidable architect behind the programming strategy that makes TCM well-known; Genevieve McGillicuddy, who has led all efforts to attach the community with its followers, most vividly by her administration of the TCM Basic Movie Competition; Dexter Fedor, who led a shocking rebrand situating this basic community within the modern world; and Anne Wilson, whose distinguished tenure main the studio workforce’s manufacturing of hosted segments has given human dimension to the community’s curation.

And talking of hosts – I’m grateful for Alicia Malone, Eddie Muller, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and naturally, our prime host and BMOC, Ben Mankiewicz. Throughout my time, we grew from two hosts (together with, notably, the long-lasting and beloved Robert Osborne) to this deep and gifted bench of subject-matter consultants who present context for our programming.

25+ years on the firm (my first 9 with the raucously enjoyable Cartoon Community) implies that I’ve seen numerous goodbye notes. I’ve all the time dreaded the lengthy ones, however now I get it. It’s arduous to say goodbye. I’ll shut with this – thanks all for making TCM a cultural treasure and for making my time main you a definite and joyous honor. I will probably be rooting for you from the sidelines and wishing TCM all the perfect sooner or later.

Pola