Veteran news producer and former NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker will become the president of CNN Worldwide in January , the network announced Thursday . `` Jeff 's experience as a news executive is unmatched for its breadth and success , '' said Phil Kent , chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting System , CNN 's parent company . `` In a career that has seen significant professional success in both broadcast and cable , Jeff has demonstrated his ability to run multiple lines of business and fiercely defend journalists and journalism . '' Zucker succeeds Jim Walton , who has headed CNN Worldwide since 2003 . As president , Zucker will oversee 23 branded news and information businesses , including CNN 's U.S. television network , CNN International , HLN and CNN Digital . The latter includes CNN.com , one of the world 's leading news websites . `` I am thrilled to join the distinguished team of journalists across the worldwide platforms of CNN , '' Zucker said in a statement . `` The global reach and scale of the CNN brand is unparalleled in all of news . Outside of my family and the Miami Dolphins , there is nothing I am as passionate about as journalism . '' His first challenge is likely to be turning around CNN/US television ratings , which have been declining in recent years . Zucker , who had most recently produced Katie Couric 's new daytime talk show , had been widely rumored to be in line for the position . It 's been that kind of whirlwind life for Zucker , who has had a rocket-like rise in the news and entertainment business . Zucker , who was born and raised in the Miami area , started his professional career as a researcher for NBC 's Olympics operation in 1986 . Within three years he was a producer for the `` Today '' show ; three years after that , in 1992 , he became its executive producer at age 26 . He helped propel the morning show to the No . 1 position , which it consistently held through the rest of his tenure . In 2000 he was promoted to the head of NBC Entertainment -- essentially the network 's programming chief -- and followed that with continued ascensions until becoming head of NBC Universal in 2007 , overseeing the broadcast network including its news division and all its cable entities , such as MSNBC , CNBC and Bravo . Zucker had his struggles during his latter years at NBC , with the broadcast network falling into fourth place in the ratings and a much-publicized controversy over late-night programming involving Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno . Nevertheless , his news judgment and leadership made the `` Today '' show the most profitable show on television . Zucker 's portfolio will include all CNN networks and digital properties . The original 24-hour news network , CNN has the greatest reach of any domestic news network . The CNN brand on television extends to 100 million households in the United States and 265 million households abroad , with significant online and mobile reach and a global newsgathering network with 45 locations .
Jeff left to become new CEO of NBC Worldwide . Zucker is a news and programming veteran who rose to head of NBC Universal . While producer of NBC 's ` ` Today '' show , helped make it No . 1 . Zucker is ` ` passionate '' about politics .