Warner Bros. Digital Networks President Craig Hunegs To Depart

Craig Hunegs, President, Business and Strategy, Warner Bros. Television Group and President, Warner Bros. Digital Networks, will be leaving the Studio at the end of the year, the company announced on Monday. Hunegs, a 20-year WBTV veteran, is the highest-ranking executive to leave the company since AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner was completed in the summer. He  is in charge of the one of the biggest growth areas AT&T has been targeting for WarnerMedia — Warner Bros.’ streaming platforms.

“Craig has been an invaluable member of the Warner Bros. family for more than two decades. His skills as a manager, a savvy deal maker and a hugely talented strategist have helped shape our future in the rapidly evolving television industry and been critical to the company’s success,” said Kevin Tsujihara, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros., to whom Hunegs reports. “Most recently, Craig was instrumental in our move into the digital networks business, including helping launch DCUniverse, which brings one of our most important brands fully into the digital age. I thank him for his many contributions to Warner Bros. We will all miss him immensely, but I have no doubt he’ll be equally successful in his future endeavors.”

Hunegs was the founding President of Warner Bros. Digital Networks, which launched in June 2016, and led the build-out of Warner Bros.’ OTT services. Included in Warner Bros. Digital Network’s portfolio are OTT services DC Universe and Boomerang; the gamer network Machinima; the digital-native production company Stage 13; Uninterrupted (a partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter); and Ellen Digital Ventures (a partnership with Ellen DeGeneres).

Previously, Hunegs served as EVP, Warner Bros. Television Group from 2006-13, where he helped orchestrate broad licensing partnerships with Netflix and Hulu, the formation of new linear and on-demand distribution windows, the acquisitions of Alloy Entertainment and Shed Media and was involved in the creation of The CW network whose board Hunegs was a member of.

From 1999-2006, Hunegs was EVP, Warner Bros. Television Production and, from 1997-1999, EVP Business and Financial Affairs, Warner Bros. Television Production. Prior to joining Warner Bros., Hunegs was the Head of Business Affairs for The WB Network.

“I want to thank Kevin and my colleagues in the Television Group – especially my partners Peter Roth and Jeff Schlesinger – my Digital Networks team and all my colleagues across WB, Turner and HBO. It’s been an amazing run,” said Hunegs. “After 20 years here, I can’t wait to take on new opportunities at this incredibly dynamic time in our industry.”