Paramount is quietly hunting for a heavyweight to pair with Bari Weiss on the business side of its news empire, sources tell Axios. The role would mirror Weiss' editorial authority if Paramount's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery goes through, giving her oversight of news content across both CBS News and CNN, while the new hire would run business operations for the combined news portfolio. Variety backs up the report, citing four people familiar with the talks; two of them say Weiss would likely hold creative and editorial rank over the new hire, which hasn't exactly been attractive to some of the big names involved.
Among those on Paramount's early wish list: NBCUniversal News Group chair Cesar Conde, CNN Worldwide chief Mark Thompson, former NBC News president Noah Oppenheim, ex-ABC News president Ben Sherwood, and former CBS News president David Rhodes. While merger talks are pending regulatory approval—and Paramount executives are barred from engaging WBD execs like Thompson—the search is ongoing and not final. The move comes as CBS News navigates turmoil at 60 Minutes and outside scrutiny of the Skydance-Paramount deal, including reported efforts by California and New York attorneys general to challenge it. A source told Axios that Weiss' job is safe and that she's involved in vetting potential partners, with Paramount leadership said to be firmly behind her.
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