Warner Bros. Discovery Names Priya Aiyar Chief Legal Officer

Warner Bros. Discovery (Nasdaq: WBD) today announced that Priya Aiyar has been appointed Chief Legal Officer, leading the company's legal and compliance functions globally. She will officially start in February and report to David Zaslav, Chief Executive Officer.

"There has never been a more important moment for WBD and our industry to have the brightest minds, most experienced practitioners and proven leaders, and Priya personifies those traits," said Zaslav. "Priya's wealth of knowledge and strategic capabilities will help us to smartly navigate the opportunities and ongoing evolution ahead this year and beyond as we pursue global growth in streaming, a return to excellence at our studios, and optimization of our linear business. She will be an exceptional addition to our management team."

Aiyar joins WBD from American Airlines, where she served as Chief Legal Officer since 2022 and was responsible for the company's legal affairs and strategies globally. She also oversaw labor relations and served as a key advisor to the board. Aiyar played a crucial role in American's navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent return to profitability, and helped achieve milestone new contracts with the company's unionized work groups.

Aiyar's earlier experience includes several senior roles both at law firms and in the public sector. Before joining American Airlines in 2019, she served as a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP from 2017 to 2019, and earlier in her career was a partner at Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel PLLC.

From 2013 to 2017, Aiyar was the Acting General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and earlier served as Deputy General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy.

She began her legal career as a clerk to Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and then to Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Aiyar received a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, a master's degree from the University of Oxford and a bachelor's degree from Harvard University. She was also a Rhodes Scholar.