Jun 18, 2024 - Business

Robert Gibbs joins Warner Bros. Discovery as comms chief

Sara Fischer

Outgoing White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gestures as he speaks during his last daily press briefing February 11, 2011 at the White House in Washington, DC. — Then-outgoing White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gestures as he speaks during his last daily press briefing in 2011 at the White House. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Robert Gibbs, a senior corporate communications executive who formerly served as White House Press Secretary during the Obama administration, is joining Warner Bros. Discovery as the communications chief for CEO David Zaslav, a source confirmed to Axios.

Why it matters: Gibbs is an experienced crisis communicator with extensive ties to decision-makers in Washington.

Zaslav has been without a communications chief since January, when longtime Discovery executive Nathaniel Brown exited.

Catch up quick: Gibbs currently serves as a partner at Bully Pulpit Interactive, a D.C.-based communications and advertising agency. Prior to that, he spent four years as the global chief communications officer for McDonald's,

During his time as press secretary, Gibbs managed public communications surrounding the historic and contentious passage of the Affordable Care Act.

The big picture: Zaslav's communications strategy has come under the spotlight as he tries to convince Wall Street that the firm's business strategy is working.

For example, Zaslav said in 2022 that Warner Bros. Discovery didn't need NBA rights, but the company is now fighting hard to hold onto the NBA.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news of his new role on Monday evening.
Warner Bros. Discovery did not immediately return Axios' request for comment. Robert Gibbs did not immediately return Axios' request for comment.

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Robert Gibbs joins Warner Bros. Discovery as comms chief

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