Phil Kent To Step Down From Turner

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Phil Kent, chairman and chief executive officer of Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System Inc., is stepping down from his position and will not be renewing his contract with the company when it ends next year.

Phil Kent To Step Down From Turner

Phil Kent’s Decision is The Result Of Conversations with Jeff Bewkees

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kent’s decision is a result of many conversations with Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX) CEO Jeff Bewkes over long term leadership planning for Turner.

“Nothing changes for me or any of you until then,” Kent told colleagues. “I’ll come in tomorrow and be on the job with the same enthusiasm as today, just as I know you will.“

Bewkes announced today that John K. Martin will be the next Chief Executive Officer of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and is expected to assume his position from January 1, 2014, succeeding Phil Kent, who will serve as chairman for a transition period in 2014.

Turner has Driven Recent Success of Time Warner

“Phil Kent’s exceptional leadership at Turner has driven much of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX)’s recent success. For the past decade, he has expertly guided the Turner networks through a period of rapid change, all the while building on each network’s leading position with viewers and advertisers and forging stronger relationships with distributors. At Phil’s initiation, he and I agreed that now is the right time to announce the next generation of leadership, and I am pleased that he will serve as Chairman.” Bewkes said in his announcement today.

Since the beginning of 2003, Mr. Kent has guided Turner’s continuing evolution as a multi-platform media and technology leader and pioneered a top-class team to manage some of the most valued brands in the world.

”At Phil Kent’s initiation, he and I agreed that now is the right time to announce the next generation of leadership, and I am pleased that he will serve as chairman,” Bewkes said.

Bewkes appreciated Kent for guiding Turner’s networks “through a period of rapid change, all the while building on each network’s leading position with viewers and advertisers and forging stronger relationships with distributors.”

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