CNN has found a heavy hitter to helm the new “Piers Morgan Tonight” when it debuts in January. Jonathan Wald, former executive producer of NBC’s “Today” and “Nightly News,” and former senior vice president of CNBC, has signed on as Executive Producer of the new weeknight talker.
“Jonathan has spent more than 20 years as a top producer in broadcast and cable television news and has the unique ability to produce television that is smart and provocative. We are thrilled that he’ll be joining the CNN family,” said CNN Executive Vice President Ken Jautz.
Most recently Wald has been an advisor to AOL on cross-platform programming initiatives. From 2006-2009, Wald served as senior vice president of CNBC, responsible for all business news programming. A three-time Emmy Award winner, Wald was the executive producer of Today where he led the program’s distinguished coverage during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the contested 2000 presidential election, and the first live morning show performance by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Prior to Today, he was the executive producer of “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw,” where he was responsible for all aspects of the top-rated flagship broadcast.
“CNN is an important news organization and a powerful worldwide brand. I am so excited to join this team. I can’t wait to get started and to collaborate with Piers on redefining the long-form interview program in primetime,” said Wald.
“Jonathan is tough, funny, smart as hell, incredibly experienced, and wants to win,” said Piers Morgan, who was selected in September to take over when Larry King retires the end of this year.
