Warner Bros. Discovery Comms Chief Nathaniel Brown Leaving Studio

Etan Vlessing
·1 min read

Nathaniel Brown, chief communications officer at Warner Bros. Discovery, is leaving the Hollywood studio after five years in the post.

Brown in an internal memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter said he “especially loved being in the trenches” after joining Discovery Inc. in 2019 ahead of a merger with Warner Media to create Warner Bros. Discovery.

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Brown in 2022 was tapped to lead corporate communications for Discovery Inc., before it merged with WarnerMedia. Before joining Discovery, Brown was senior vp of corporate affairs at 21st Century Fox and News Corp.

Brown will now take some time off for travel and with his family before returning to the fray. “Eventually, I will dive back into this profession I love, one that has continued to teach me new things and put me in the orbit of fantastic and fascinating people and interesting challenges,” he added.

WBD CEO David Zaslav in his own internal memo to employees praised Brown as he heads for the exit. “Nathaniel is hugely talented, one of the absolute best in the business and I have been incredibly fortunate to have him by my side during one of the most pivotal and transformative periods for our industry,” Zaslav said.

Brown will remain with the studio through a short transition as a search for a new head of communications is conducted. Laura Watson, head of executive communications, and Katie Martin Kelley, head of communications for Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, will step in on an interim basis to lead corporate communications until a successor is found.

During his career, Brown also spent three years at XM Satellite Radio and six years at Sony BMG.

Nathaniel Brown’s internal note to employees follows in full:

All,

I have some personal news to share with you. After five amazing years at Discovery and now WBD, I am stepping down from my role as Chief Communications Officer.

I realize there is never a perfect or easy time to make such a transition, but the start of the new year feels as good as any. These last several years have been fast and unforgettable. I joined Discovery in 2019 after a great run at 21st Century Fox, culminating in 21CF’s sale to Disney. Since then, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work alongside DZ as part of his leadership team and it has been an extraordinary ride, particularly these last few years as DZ has architected Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia and established Warner Bros. Discovery. The team has worked tirelessly to launch the new company and restructure it for the future. It has been a phenomenalexperience, and I will be forever grateful to DZ and the many colleagues across WBD for their support, collaboration and friendship.

I have especially loved being in the trenches with what I believe is the best Comms team in the business. That is a testament to your incredible skill, grit, compassion and commitment. At the end of the day, it’s all about the people and we have spent so much of our waking hours together in meetings, on Zoom calls and on the phone, at all hours. I could not have asked for a better group to fight the good fight with.

I am looking forward to taking some time off. I plan to travel a bit and hope to get a chance to be a better partner, son, brother and friend. It might even be time to get a new puppy. Eventually, I will dive back into this profession I love, one that has continued to teach me new things and put me in the orbit of fantastic and fascinating people and interesting challenges. I am excited for this next chapter and will keep you posted.

I will transition out over the next month or so. The company is in the process of conducting a search, internally and externally, for my successor. In the meantime, the plan is for Laura Watson to oversee corporate communications and for Katie Martin Kelley to assist in handling corporate press inquiries on an interim basis. As I said, this is a fantastic team and I am confident you will continue to support them and one another through this next phase. Thank you for everything – I will always treasure the many great memories we share and look forward to our paths crossing again in the not-too-distant future. Until then, know that I will be rooting you on from the stands as your biggest fan and wish you all the very best.

Nathaniel

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