Kathleen Finch Retiring from Warner Bros. Discovery

Kathleen Finch, chairman and CEO of U.S. networks at Warner Bros. Discovery, has decided to retire after 25 years at the company.

Finch joined Scripps Networks in 1999 as a programmer at the start-up Food Network, following 12 years as a journalist at CBS News. Following Discovery’s acquisition of Scripps, Finch served as the company’s chief lifestyle brands officer, leading HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID and Travel Channel. In 2022, following the creation of Warner Bros. Discovery, Finch assumed additional oversight of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, TNT and TBS.

Upon Finch’s retirement at the end of the year, the U.S. networks business will be led by Channing Dungey, Warner Bros. Television Group’s chairman and CEO.

“There is no one better at developing captivating content, compelling talent, and meaningful lifestyle brands than Kathleen, who has been my partner as we built our premier entertainment networks at Discovery and created Warner Bros. Discovery as an unscripted powerhouse,” said David Zaslav, CEO. “While I understand her long-standing decision to retire, I will certainly miss her, as will the entire company, which has benefitted from her unmatched collaboration and unique understanding of what our audiences crave. Channing is an unparalleled creative executive who has shepherded countless award-winning hit shows. She has the ideal expertise and experience—as a content developer, platform programmer and network executive—to lead the U.S. Networks.”

“It has been an honor to spend the past 25 years at Scripps, Discovery and now Warner Bros. Discovery,” said Finch. “I began my journey at the fledgling Food Network and am so proud to have helped turn it into a cable powerhouse and then to lead the team developing some of the most addictive unscripted franchises across HGTV and TLC, creating household names out of chefs and house flippers, and capturing the cultural conversation with real-life stories. The greatest joy, and the part I will miss the most, is the incredible people with whom I get to work every day. Starting with David and throughout the organization and of course all the amazing on-air talent, this is one of the smartest and most creative groups imaginable. I am so proud of what the U.S. networks group has accomplished together, and I know under Channing’s leadership, there are many successes to come.”