Warner Bros. Discovery announces executive appointments tied to planned separation

Published 28/07/2025, 21:44
Warner Bros. Discovery announces executive appointments tied to planned separation

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) announced Monday that Fraser Woodford will be appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Brian Rauch will be appointed as Chief Accounting Officer, both effective upon and contingent on the completion of the company’s planned separation into two publicly traded entities, Warner Bros. and Discovery Global.

According to a statement included in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Gunnar Wiedenfels will cease to serve as Chief Financial Officer and is expected to become Chief Executive Officer following the separation. Lori Locke will step down as Chief Accounting Officer at that time. For investors seeking deeper insights into WBD’s leadership transitions and financial outlook, InvestingPro offers comprehensive analysis, including 14 additional ProTips and detailed financial metrics.

Mr. Woodford, age 49, currently serves as Executive Vice President, Treasury, Investments, and Real Estate, a position he has held since 2022. Before the company’s acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T Inc. in 2022, he was Executive Vice President, Treasurer of Discovery, Inc. from 2020 to 2022 and Senior Vice President, Treasurer from 2016 to 2020. Prior to joining Discovery, he served as Assistant Treasurer of DirecTV from 2013 to 2016 and Director, Investment Banking at Barclays (LON:BARC) Capital from 2002 to 2012.

Mr. Rauch, age 46, is currently Executive Vice President, Head of Global Business Services, a role he has held since 2022. Prior to the WarnerMedia acquisition, he was Executive Vice President, Head of Finance Operations at Discovery, Inc. from 2020 to 2022, Senior Vice President, Global Controller from 2019 to 2020, and Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller from 2018 to 2019. Before joining Discovery, he served as Vice President, Assistant Controller at Scripps Networks Interactive (NASDAQ:SNI) from 2015 to 2018, and previously held reporting and accounting positions at the Tennessee Valley Authority and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

The company stated that the terms of compensation for Mr. Woodford and Mr. Rauch in their new roles have not yet been determined. Warner Bros. Discovery also noted that there are no family relationships or related-party transactions requiring disclosure for either executive.

This information is based on a statement included in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. With the company’s next earnings report due on August 7, investors can access detailed financial analysis and Fair Value estimates through InvestingPro’s exclusive research reports, which provide comprehensive insights into WBD’s financial health, market position, and growth prospects among 1,400+ top US stocks.

In other recent news, Warner Bros. Discovery has announced a significant corporate restructuring set for mid-2026, resulting in the formation of two separate entities: "Warner Bros." for its streaming and studios business and "Discovery Global" for its television networks division. This move highlights the company’s strategic focus on distinct operational areas. Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery has entered into a multi-year agreement with VideoAmp to enhance currency measurement options for advertisers across various platforms, supporting the 2025 Upfront season and beyond. Analyst firm Benchmark has reiterated a Buy rating for Warner Bros. Discovery following the successful debut of its new Superman movie, which garnered $122 million in North America and $217 million globally during its opening weekend. UBS has raised its price target for the company to $10, maintaining a Neutral rating, and anticipates improved profitability in Streaming & Studios for the upcoming quarter. UBS forecasts revenues of $9.86 billion and EBITDA of $1.91 billion for the quarter, indicating growth of 1% and 6% year-over-year, respectively. Meanwhile, Bernstein has reiterated a Market Perform rating, noting the company’s progress toward its planned separation into two divisions. As these developments unfold, Warner Bros. Discovery continues to navigate its strategic initiatives and market performance.

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