​In April of this year, Turner Entertainment Networks President Steve Koonin announced his departure of the company in order to take a post as the CEO of the Atlanta Hawks. Now, Turner is saying goodbye to another key executive.

Michael Wright, president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies, has asked to be removed from the running for Koonin’s post and wants to be released from his contract at the end of this summer, report Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. Both publications report that Wright will most likely stay at Turner until he is replaced.

Wright has been with Turner since 2002, when he started with TNT, adding on responsibilities for TBS and TCM over the years. As head of programming, he has worked on series including The Closer, Falling Skies, Dallas, Cougar Town, Conan and the syndicated run of The Big Bang Theory on TBS. TNT has had a successful summer for 2014, with new series The Last Ship and returning hits like Major Crimes performing well in the ratings.

Read more at Deadline.

Brief Take: Wright’s departure is only one of many changes at Turner, after this week’s news that roughly 600 buyout offers were making their rounds at the company, largely at CNN and HLN. Turner Broadcasting CEO John Martin sent out a memo addressing “Turner 2020,” an initiative that involves management changes and a new corporate structure beginning to be implemented.

[Image courtesy of Turner]

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