Kevin Tsujihara has resigned his post as chairman-CEO of Warner Bros. following an investigation into his relationship with actress Charlotte Kirk and allegations he used his clout to help her find work at the studio.
In a statement, Tsujihara said he realized “my continued leadership could be a distraction and an obstacle to the company’s continued success.” Warner parent WarnerMedia said the company would unveil an interim leadership team on Tuesday.
“It is in the best interest of WarnerMedia, Warner Bros., our employees and our partners for Kevin to step down as Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros.,” said WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey.
“Kevin has contributed greatly to the studio’s success over the past 25 years and for that we thank him. Kevin acknowledges that his mistakes are inconsistent with the company’s leadership expectations and could impact the Company’s ability to execute going forward.”
Tsujihara had headed the studio since early 2013. He’d been with Warner Bros. since 1994, starting out in business development and rising through the ranks in home entertainment.
Tsujihara’s downfall came after the Hollywood Reporter published a lengthy report about the alleged extramarital affair between Tsujihara, who is married, and British actress Kirk. Tsujihara was accused of using his power as studio chief to help get her hired by producers on Warner Bros.-affiliated projects.
Kirk said she was not a victim and that the relationship was consensual. “I might have felt used at the time but I don’t now. Not at all. I was sad it ended badly,” Kirk told the Daily Mail on Sunday. “I did not pick a fight but I had to fight when one was brought to me. I was not intimidated or embarrassed and my real regret is that those friendships turned out be fragile.”
