Adrienne O’Hara Hired as Discovery Global Head of Communications

Warner Bros. Discovery has made a significant addition to its leadership team by hiring Adrienne O’Hara as EVP, chief communications and public affairs officer of Discovery Global. O’Hara, a seasoned communications and PR professional with experience at Gap Inc., will officially join the company on January 7, 2026. In her new role, she will report to Gunnar Wiedenfels, the current CFO of Warner Bros. Discovery who is set to become the president and CEO of Discovery Global. O’Hara’s primary responsibility will be to oversee all global communications and public affairs for the company as it prepares to operate independently as a publicly traded entity following its separation from Warner Bros. Discovery.

The spin-off of Discovery Global is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, after which Warner Bros.’s studios, HBO, HBO Max, and games will be acquired by Netflix in an $83 billion deal. However, this plan may face challenges as David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile takeover bid of $108 billion in an attempt to sway WBD shareholders to reject the Netflix agreement.

Discovery Global will encompass a diverse range of entertainment, sports, and news TV brands including CNN, Discovery, TNT, TBS, OWN, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim. Additionally, it will include TNT Sports in the U.S., free-to-air channels across Europe, and digital products such as Discovery+ streaming service and Bleacher Report (B/R).

Gunnar Wiedenfels expressed his confidence in O’Hara’s leadership abilities, stating, “Adrienne is a proven leader with deep experience guiding iconic branded portfolios through transformation and change. Her ability to translate strategy into clear, compelling narratives will be critical as we look to engage our investors, employees, partners, and other stakeholders, building continued belief in Discovery Global’s incredible potential as a standalone company.”

O’Hara brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having previously served as SVP of global communications and engagement at Gap Inc. and head of communications for Old Navy. She expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to work with the Discovery Global team in shaping the company’s narrative, enhancing the employee experience, and increasing brand impact as it enters a new chapter.

With O’Hara’s appointment, the leadership team for Discovery Global is now complete. The team includes key executives such as Gerhard Zeiler, Fraser Woodford, David Duvall, and Amy Girdwood, among others, who will play pivotal roles in steering the company towards success in its independent venture.