Warner Bros. Discovery Head of Research Tania Missad to Exit | Exclusive

Warner Bros. Discovery’s global head of corporate research Tania Missad is leaving the company amid discussions of departmental restructuring, two individuals familiar with the matter told TheWrap.

According to one individual, Missad is leaving after engaging in discussions about restructuring the research department and considers the exit ahead of any potential changes a mutual decision between her and WBD.

That individual told TheWrap that WBD is still in discussions about the departmental restructuring and that no decisions have been made.

Though, a second individual with knowledge said the restructuring would effectively “wipe out” the cable research department, which tracks with the lessening importance of linear TV to the future of the industry.

A WBD representative declined to comment for this article.

Missad joined Warner Bros. as a VP in 2016 from Mattel as the company was expanding its research department. She went on to become SVP of global research at WarnerMedia in 2020. In 2022, she was named global head of research at the newly formed WBD.

Layoffs were expected to hit the cable news division this summer. Headed up by U.S. networks chairman and chief content officer Kathleen Finch, the cable networks operated by Warner Bros. Discovery include Discovery Channel, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Science Channel, Animal Planet and former Scripps networks Food Network and HGTV — as well as Turner-branded networks such as TNT, TBS and truTV.

The potential restructuring of the research department joins several other plans by the company to cut costs and streamline after merging the Discovery and Warner staffs. TheWrap reported Wednesday morning that layoffs are underway at HBO, which hit its corporate communications departments.

Loree Seitz and Sharon Waxman contributed to this article.

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