Warner Bros. Discovery has confirmed that it is laying off Karen Horne, a diversity, equity, and inclusion executive. This decision is not a result of cost-cutting measures, but rather a reorganization of the division to focus more on employee-related initiatives. As a result of this reorganization, the DEI team will search for a new group vice president to oversee North America and employee DEI initiatives, as well as a new group vice president internationally. This expansion of the team signifies the company’s continued commitment to DEI efforts.
In the industry, there has been a trend of departures from DEI positions. Earlier this week, Netflix announced the departure of Verna Meyers, who had been working on the company’s inclusion and diversity initiatives for the past five years. Meyers will be succeeded by her vice president, Wade Davis. Last week, Disney confirmed that Latondra Newton, the company’s chief diversity officer, would be leaving after a six-year run. Disney is currently in the process of searching for a new chief diversity officer.
Karen Horne joined WarnerMedia in 2020 and has been instrumental in fostering pipeline programs that provide underrepresented communities with access to the industry. Prior to her role at WarnerMedia, Horne worked at NBC Entertainment and Universal Television Studios, where she was responsible for diversity initiatives, including the creation of the Late-Night Writers Workshop, which helped develop the talents of diverse writers and provide them with industry exposure.
The news of Horne’s departure was first reported by the LA Times. It is important to note that Warner Bros. Discovery’s reorganization does not affect their commitment to pipeline programs and content-driven initiatives, which are fundamental pillars of their DEI strategy and will continue to be areas of investment and focus.
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The full memo from Asif Sadiq, Warner Bros. Discovery’s chief global diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, highlights the accomplishments and progress made by the DEI team in the past year. The memo also outlines the new approach to regional leads who will focus solely on employee-related initiatives, allowing content program leads to have a global perspective in developing opportunities for diverse talent. As part of this new approach, Karen Horne will be departing the company, and a search will be conducted to find a new group vice president of North America DEI. The international structure will follow a similar model, with a new group vice president being identified to join the team. These changes do not impact the commitment and plans for pipeline programs and content-driven initiatives.
Asif Sadiq expresses gratitude for the dedication of the DEI team and encourages them to reach out with any thoughts or questions. He assures them that he will keep them updated as new leaders are identified to fill key roles in the new structure.
The departures of DEI executives in the industry, including Karen Horne, Verna Meyers, and Latondra Newton, indicate a shifting landscape and the need for ongoing efforts to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion. Companies like Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, and Disney must continue to prioritize these initiatives and ensure that their teams and content reflect the diverse world we live in.
