Skydance’s Gerhard Zeiler, Warner Bros. Int’l President, to Depart With Eyes on Politics

David Ellison ‘s merged Paramount-Warner Bros., now known as Skydance , is going through all sorts of executive changes now that the mega-combination is complete. Gerhard Zeiler, who has been serving as president, international for Warner Bros. Discovery , is the latest executive to leave – and he is eyeing a new career in Austrian politics.

Zeiler recently unveiled that he is making a play for the leadership of Austria’s Social Democratic Party, which is part of a coalition government of his home country. Zeiler is looking to replace the party’s current head, and the country’s vice chancellor, Andreas Babler. That has in recent days led to discussion about whether he would leave Skydance. Related Stories Movies Sofia Coppola Plans Return to Narrative Film, But Has Her Late Mother's 'Making Marie Antoinette' to See Off First Movies Disney's Jon Wax Says Buzzy K-Drama 'The Remarried Empress' Has Substance to Match Its Spectacle

On Friday, Zeiler made his exit official, but he didn’t address his potential political role. “At the end of next week, I will leave the company,” he wrote in an internal company memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter . “Some of you, I have known for four years. With many of you, I have worked for seven years. And with some of you, I have shared almost fifteen years of my professional life.” The veteran executive also shared that it is surprisingly difficult to find the right words to say goodbye.

His memo didn’t mention any successor for him in his role, but the recently unveiled Skydance management ranks all feature execs with global responsibility. For example, JB Perrette has been tapped as co-chair and chief business officer of Skydance TV and Skydance DTC, effectively giving him global oversight of the business of TV and streaming.

Zeiler was appointed president of WarnerMedia International in 2020, adding responsibility for Discovery’s international footprint following the close of the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger in April 2022. He first joined Turner in 2012 as president, Turner International, where he oversaw the entertainment and kids’ networks in all markets outside of North America.

Prior to joining Turner, Zeiler was CEO of RTL Group, a division of German media conglomerate Bertelsmann. He previously served as secretary general of Austria’s public broadcaster, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF).

Dear All, I have started writing this message several times, and each time I stopped. Perhaps because after so many years, it is surprisingly difficult to find the right words to say goodbye. At the end of next week, I will leave the company. Some of you, I have known for four years. With many of you, I have worked for seven years. And with some of you, I have shared almost fifteen years of my professional life. Fifteen years. When I think about everything that has happened during those years — in our company, in our industry, in the world, and in our own lives — I realize just how much we have experienced together. And that is why this is not simply the end of a job for me. I want you to know how profoundly grateful I am.