Andy Forssell, executive vice president and general manager of HBO Max, is leaving WarnerMedia ahead of the completion of the company’s merger with Discovery, now considered as early as Friday, Variety learned.
News of Forssell’s departure follows two of his notable colleagues: Jason Kilar, CEO of WarnerMedia, and Ann Sarnoff, chairman and CEO of Studios and Networks Group.
As Variety previously reported, insiders initially thought the transaction between Discovery and current WarnerMedia owner AT&T would officially close on April 11, resulting in the formation of a new company, Warner Bros. Discovery. However, two sources with knowledge of the situation say the merger is now expected to be completed by the end of the week. Current Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, will serve as President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Forssell was appointed to the position in May 2019 and led the HBO Max operational business unit at WarnerMedia, reporting directly to Kilar. Forssell and his team were responsible for the product, marketing, consumer engagement and operations of HBO Max, including the ad-supported version of HBO Max, and the platform’s international launch, which began in summer 2021 in markets across Latin America and the Caribbean , followed by its first European launches in Scandinavia and Spain last autumn.
Forssell previously helped establish another WarnerMedia company, Otter Media, where he served as the company’s chief operating officer.
Last year, all three ousted executives — Kilar, Sarnoff, and Forssell — sat down with Variety to discuss a hectic year that saw Warner Bros. Picture Group’s entire theatrical series release simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. Many dismissed the decision at the time, even though it brought 73.8 million subscribers to HBO Max by the end of 2021.
“We could be louder,” Forssell said of the success, “It’s one of the many reasons I love doing what I do. Ann and Andy are humble, I’m humble, and sometimes it takes a little nudge to get us to lean forward and ring the bell.”
Forssell began his career as a cavalry officer in the US Army followed by 10 years at Siebel Systems in product, sales and general management roles.
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