Kevin Tsujihara Stepping Down As Warner Bros. Chief

The winds of change are constantly blowing in the film industry, and that seems to be doubly true for Warner Bros. Their parent company, Time Warner has been in the midst of a gigantic merger that has led to the newly-named conglomerate WarnerMedia, and even beyond that, the affiliated DC Films branch has been going through some huge overhauls in the wake of Zack Snyder’s early guidance — a change that was spearheaded by Warner Bros. head Kevin Tsujihara.

Now, according to a new report from THR, it looks like Tsujihara will be stepping away from his role as chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which is a position he’s held for six years since 2013. This all comes following a report earlier this month regarding Tsujihara reportedly trading acting opportunities for sexual favors. Regardless, it sounds like this scandal played a role in his stepping down, as seemingly hinted at by WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey.

“It is in the best interest of WarnerMedia, Warner Bros., our employees and our partners for Kevin to step down as Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Kevin has contributed greatly to the studio’s success over the past 25 years and for that we thank him. Kevin acknowledges that his mistakes are inconsistent with the Company’s leadership expectations and could impact the Company’s ability to execute going forward.”

Regarding his stepping down, Tsujihara expressed concern over how attention to his past actions could negatively affect the company, as he said in an employee memo.

“It has become clear that my continued leadership could be a distraction and an obstacle to the company’s continued success. The hard work of everyone within our organization is truly admirable, and I won’t let media attention on my past detract from all the great work the team is doing.”

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Of course, Tsujihara’s impact is widespread, but in terms of genre films, he was instrumental in the current course of the DC film universe and is also credited with courting J.K. Rowling for the Fantastic Beasts films, so it’s clear he’s had quite the big role even recently.

Here is Tsujihara’s memo in its entirety:

Dear Colleagues,

“Over the past week and a half, I have been reflecting on how the attention on my past actions might impact the company’s future. After lengthy introspection, and discussions with John Stankey over the past week, we have decided that it is in Warner Bros.’ best interest that I step down as Chairman and CEO.

“I love this company and the people that make it so great. I’ve been honored to head this organization and work alongside all of its talented employees over the past 25 years. Together we’ve built this studio into an unequivocal leader in the industry.

“However, it has become clear that my continued leadership could be a distraction and an obstacle to the company’s continued success. The hard work of everyone within our organization is truly admirable, and I won’t let media attention on my past detract from all the great work the team is doing.

“I am overwhelmed and grateful for the outpouring of support I have received from colleagues and industry partners during this difficult time.

“Again, I am so proud of the great work that you do every day to make Warner Bros. the gold standard in our industry. It has been a pleasure to work alongside each and every one of you, and I wish you all the absolute best.”

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SOURCE: THR

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