Variety: HBO Content Chief Casey Bloys Explains Restructure, Layoffs in Memo to Staffers

Story from Variety:

HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys sent a memo to employees this afternoon, explaining the decision by Warner Bros. Discovery to layoff 70 employees, or 14% of his workforce, as the company restructures. The move, announced the morning, comes as Warner Bros. Discovery prepares to merge HBO Max and Discovery+ into one streamer — with the decision made to reduce redundancies in unscripted programming. But a changing business model also led to cuts in scripted children’s and family fare, casting, international and acquisitions.

“Unfortunately, the environment in which we operate is changing rapidly, and it is up to us to continue to refine our model to chart a course for long term success,” he wrote in the memo. “As you heard from David Zaslav during our last earnings call, producing top-tier HBO/Max scripted content is crucial to Warner Bros. Discovery's future. Part of this process involves an honest assessment of what we need moving forward.”

Bloys opened the memo by lauding his team for their work, which has been recognized particularly on the awards front: “First, I want to thank and acknowledge all of you for the unparalleled, incredible work you’ve done across all of our programming efforts,” he wrote. “This team has achieved successes over an unprecedented stretch of challenges—from 140 Emmy nominations across our brand to the recent coverage celebrating HBO Max as one of the best streaming services in the market. I commend your focus and commitment to excellence through these very uncertain times.”

Monday’s announcement included new roles for Sarah Aubrey, who now will focus on the Max Originals drama slate and also work in international programming strategy alongside the Warner Bros. Discovery International team. On the HBO Max comedy side, the department will now report to Amy Gravitt, head of comedy and exec VP, programming for HBO, which will now align HBO and Max Original comedy under one team. Suzanna Makkos, who headed up HBO Max comedy, will now report into Gravitt.

Among the executives impacted are Jennifer O’Connell, HBO Max exec VP of non-fiction and live-action family originals; HBO Max content acquisitions exec VP Michael Quigley; HBO Max/T-Nets casting exec VP Linda Lowy; and HBO Max international originals senior VP Jennifer Kim.