June 9 (Reuters) - Paramount Skydance is scouting candidates to oversee the business side of operations, who would work alongside CBS News' editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
If Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery goes through, Weiss would manage editorial across CBS News and CNN, and her potential counterpart would manage business operations at both, the report said.
Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for
comment. Reuters could not independently verify the report.
The search follows a recent purge at "60 Minutes", CBS' flagship Sunday news magazine, where more than half a dozen people have departed over internal clashes, including correspondent Scott Pelley, whose contract was terminated last week.
Since becoming editor-in-chief in October under the Free Press-Paramount deal, Weiss has been reshaping the newsroom by adding commentators who offer observations about news, politics and culture to CBS as part of a push to bring a "streaming mentality" to the network.
Among the candidates being considered for the business role are NBCUniversal News Group chairman Cesar Conde, CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson and former NBC News president Noah Oppenheim, the report said.
Paramount has also considered Daily Beast CEO and former ABC News president Ben Sherwood and former CBS News president and current Sky News executive chairman David Rhodes, Axios reported, citing a source.
Axios reported Weiss' position is secure despite a report by media outlet Puck stating Paramount executives were looking for ways to limit her purview over linear coverage.
While the companies wait for regulatory approval for the $110 billion merger, no Paramount executives can have conversations with any Warner Bros executives, including Thompson, Axios reported.
Wendy McMahon, former president and CEO of CBS News, resigned in May 2025, telling staffers that she and the company have differing views on the path forward.
(Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
