How David C. Leavy Helped Navigate Discovery’s Transformation Into a Streaming Company

David C. Leavy has played a central role in guiding one of the media industry’s most critical transitions—from traditional cable television to direct-to-consumer streaming. With a 25-year tenure at Discovery Inc. and its successor Warner Bros. Discovery, he operated at the core of the company’s most consequential strategic and operational decisions.

As Chief Corporate Operating Officer of Discovery, Inc., Leavy was instrumental in major milestones that reshaped the company’s trajectory, including the acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive in 2018—an expansion that significantly strengthened Discovery’s content portfolio ahead of the streaming era. This foundation enabled the successful launch of discovery+ in 2021, where Leavy’s role extended beyond strategy into execution, coordinating technology, distribution, marketing, and global operations required to bring a large-scale streaming platform to market.

Following the merger that formed Warner Bros. Discovery, Leavy served as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, overseeing global communications, public policy, corporate relations, and brand positioning during one of the most complex integrations in modern media. His responsibilities required aligning multiple legacy organizations under a unified structure while managing external perception across regulators, media, and stakeholders.

He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of CNN Worldwide, where he oversees commercial strategy, revenue, operations, technology, and promotional functions on a global scale. The role reflects a continuation of his career-long focus: ensuring that large, complex media organizations operate with cohesion, scalability, and strategic clarity in rapidly evolving environments.