Les Moonves’ replacement Richard Parsons steps down as CBS interim chairman after a month
Richard Parsons stepped down late Sunday as interim chairman of CBS barely a month after taking the job following Les Moonves’ departure.
“The reason for my departure relates to the state of my health,” Parsons said in a statement.
“As some of you know, when I agreed to join the board and serve as the interim chair, I was already dealing with a serious health challenge — multiple myeloma — but I felt that the situation was manageable. Unfortunately, unanticipated complications have created additional new challenges, and my doctors have advised that cutting back on my current commitments is essential to my overall recovery. I trust CBS’ distinguished board, now led by Strauss Zelnick, as well as CBS’ strong management team led by Joe Ianniello, will continue to successfully guide this company into its very bright future.”
Parsons was appointed interim chair on Sept. 25, several weeks after Moonves was removed following multiple accusations of sexual misconduct.
The Brooklyn native previously served as Time Warner CEO and has spent time at Citigroup and as interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers after Donald Sterling sold the team.
Zelnick, who steps in as chairman, also joined the board in September amid a massive turnover as controlling shareholder Shari Redstone began consolidating control. Ianniello was named interim CEO after Moonves’ exit, but several other names are reportedly in the mix for a permanent position.
