Merging Communications for WarnerMedia and Discovery
Challenge
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Following the acquisition of WarnerMedia by Discovery, the newly formed organisation faced a significant challenge: how to unify two legacy media giants into a single, agile communications function capable of competing with modern streaming platforms like Netflix. The goal was not just operational efficiency, but a cultural and strategic transformation - one that would enable the new entity to act, think, and communicate like a digital-first brand.
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Approach
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Jon was invited to lead the design of a global communications and PR structure for the new organisation. Over six months, he conducted a comprehensive evaluation of both companies’ existing teams, capabilities, and strategic goals.
Key initiatives included:
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Structural Audit: Assessed current communications functions across WarnerMedia and Discovery, identifying overlaps, inefficiencies, and gaps in capability.
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Strategic Framework Design: Created a new global structure that was leaner, more collaborative, and aligned with the business’s growth ambitions.
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Vision & Guardrails: Developed a strategic blueprint that empowered teams to be more creative, experimental, and responsive to market trends — while maintaining brand consistency and governance.
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Cultural Integration: Proposed a model that blended the best of both legacy cultures, while introducing new behaviours and workflows inspired by digital-native companies.
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Leadership Alignment: Worked closely with senior stakeholders to ensure buy-in and clarity around the new communications vision.
Impact
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The proposed structure laid the foundation for a unified, future-facing communications team capable of driving influence, engagement, and brand relevance in a competitive global market. Jon’s work helped shift the mindset from traditional media silos to a dynamic, audience-first approach - positioning the new organisation to win the battle for consumer attention and compete effectively with streaming-first challengers.