John Stankey, the CEO of WarnerMedia, has named Ann Sarnoff the new chair and CEO of Warner Bros. This appointment makes Sarnoff the first female chief in the movie and TV studio’s long-standing history. 

“It is a privilege to join a studio with such a storied history. Warner Bros. has been an industry leader for decades and is known for creating many of the most iconic film, television, and gaming properties,” said Sarnoff. “I accept this position excited by the opportunity to work with the most accomplished executives and teams in media, and confident about carrying this incredible heritage forward with them.”

During her early career, Sarnoff held multiple titles at Viacom between 1993 to 2003, including COO of VH1 and CMT. She went on to serve as the COO of the WNBA, overseeing business operations for the league, before becoming president of Dow Jones Ventures. Sarnoff joined BBC Worldwide in 2010, where she is currently the president of BBC Studios Americas. 

“She brings a consistent and proven track record of innovation, creativity, and business results to lead an incredibly successful studio to its next chapter of growth,” Stankey said in a statement.

This hiring comes just three months after the previous head Kevin Tsujihara, stepped down amid an investigation into past allegations. Prior to Sarnoff, WarnerMedia was managed by three of its top executives – Toby Emmerich, Peter Roth, and Kim Williams. A company spokesperson confirmed that all three will remain in their current roles, reporting up to Sarnoff.

“Ann has shown the ability to innovate and grow revenues and has embraced the evolution taking place in our industry. I am confident she will be a great cultural fit for WarnerMedia and that our employees will embrace her leadership, enthusiasm, and passion for our business,” Stankey added.