CNN President Resigns After Failing to Disclose a Romantic Relationship With Colleague

President of Cable News Network (CNN), Jeff Zucker who is considered one of the most powerful media executives in the US, has announced his resignation for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a colleague.

Zucker, 56,who has been the head of the cable network since 2013, said his resignation was effective immediately.

In his message, Zucker said that as part of an investigation into the conduct of fired CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, he was “asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years.”

Mr Cuomo was being investigated over efforts to help his politician brother, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, fight allegations of sexual harassment.

Mr Zucker said that he had worked with the colleague for two decades and that the relationship had “evolved in recent years”.

“I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t,” he said. “I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today.”

“I certainly wish my tenure here had ended differently,” Zucker said in a message to the network’s employees. “But it was an amazing run. And I loved every minute.”

Mr Zucker’s memo did not identify the colleague with whom he had a relationship but CNN named her as Allison Gollust, the network’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years,” she said in a statement quoted by Mr Stelter on air. “Recently, our relationship changed during Covid. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time.”