Warner Bros. Discovery's Distribution Chief departs after 25 years

Warner Bros. Discovery's President of International TV Distribution, Robert Blair, will be stepping down after a remarkable 25-year tenure with the company.

This was revealed in an internal memo to staff from Gerhard Zeiler, WBD’s president of international.

He also said that there won’t be any replacement for his role.

The decision comes after careful consideration, reflecting a necessary organisational change in the Content Licensing team to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Blair's departure is not a reflection of his performance; rather, it is a strategic shift to refine the company's cost structure and adapt to the ever-changing industry landscape.

Before leaving the company this summer, Blair will collaborate closely with Zeiler to further empower the WBD content licensing team.

In 2023, the company finds ourselves at a critical point, where the global economy's slow rebound necessitates thoughtful and strategic evolution to ensure sustained success.

During his impressive quarter-century journey with WBD, Blair has been instrumental in devising international sales strategies for major titles like Game Of Thrones and its prequel House Of The Dragon.

Having joined in 1998 as the General Manager of Canadian Operations, Blair's dedication and leadership led to his promotion to President in 2019, where he played a key role in the Discovery merger.

Zeiler praised Blair for his outstanding contributions, having facilitated billions of dollars in annual sales contracts and earned the respect of clients as a tough yet respected negotiator and exceptional leader who nurtured and inspired talents within the organisation.