Warner Bros. Discovery has hired Adrian O’Hara as executive vice president and chief communications and public relations officer for Discovery Global, a television-focused company that will be spun off from WBD next year.
O’Hara, most recently a communications and PR veteran at Gap Inc., will join the company on January 7, 2026. In his new role, he will report directly to Gunnar Wiedenfels, WBD’s current CFO and President and CEO of Discovery Global. Mr. O’Hara will lead the company’s global communications and public relations efforts as it prepares to operate as an independent, publicly traded company following its planned separation from Warner Bros. Discovery.
WBD currently expects the Discovery Global spin-off to be completed in the third quarter of 2026. The remaining WBD operations (Warner Bros. Studios, HBO and HBO Max, and games) will then be acquired by Netflix in an $83 billion deal.
But that whole plan could be derailed. Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, launched a $108 billion hostile takeover bid, hoping to convince WBD shareholders to vote in favor of the deal and reject the deal with Netflix.
Discovery Global includes WBD’s entertainment, sports and news television brands: CNN (including CNN International and CNN’s All Access streaming services), Discovery, TNT, TBS, OWN, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. It also includes TNT Sports in the US and free-to-air channels across Europe, as well as digital products such as the Discovery+ streaming service and Bleacher Report (B/R).
Wiedenfels said in a statement: “Adrienne is a proven leader with extensive experience guiding a portfolio of iconic brands through transformation and change. Her ability to translate strategy into a clear and compelling narrative will be critical as we engage with our investors, employees, partners and other stakeholders and build continued confidence in Discovery Global’s incredible potential as an independent company.”
Based in New York, O’Hara most recently served as SVP of Global Communications and Engagement at Gap Inc., where she led enterprise communications and multi-stakeholder engagement for the company’s global brand portfolio since 2020. Prior to that, she served as Director of Communications at Old Navy, Gap Inc. Earlier in O’Hara’s career, she spent more than 10 years in senior communications roles at Toys R Us.
O’Hara commented, “Discovery Global has an exceptional brand portfolio and there is a clear opportunity to redefine its market positioning by leveraging communications to support growth and deepen cultural relevance. As Discovery Global enters its next chapter, I am excited to partner with Gunnar and the entire global team to shape the company’s story, improve the employee experience, and increase the impact of the brand.”
According to WBD, O’Hara’s appointment completes the new company’s management team. As previously announced, Discovery Global’s leadership team includes:
Gunnar Wiedenfels, President and CEO Gerhard Zeiler, President US, UK and Germany, Fraser Woodford, Discovery+ and Chief Content Officer, David Duvall, CFO, Amy Gardow, Chief Technology Officer Ryan Gould, Chief People and Culture Officer; Anil Jhingan, President, US Advertising Sales GTM (reporting to Sailer); Kasia Kili, Chief Development Officer; President and Managing Director, Poland; Fernando Medin, CEO, TVN; President, International Scott Miller, President of Distribution (reports to Zeiler) Fulvia Nicoli, Senior Vice President, Content Strategy and Insights (reports to Zeiler) Brian Rauch, Chief Accounting Officer (reports to Woodford) Louis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO of TNT Sports Mark Thompson, CNN Worldwide Chairman and CEO Sue Underwald, Chief Legal Officer Bobby Voltaggio, President of U.S. Ad Sales Platform Monetization (reports to Woodford)
