HBO chief Richard Plepler said Greenlit's Game of Thrones was withdrawing in the middle of the AT & T takeover

HBO Chairman and CEO Richard Plepler is leaving the company in a changing tide following the recent takeover of HBO's parent company by AT & T, Variety reported on Thursday. His departure marks the end of a nearly 30-year career at HBO. During this time, the admired company leader led and informed many of HBO's flagship projects.

Variety said the news had been communicated to staff in an internal memo in which Plepler wrote that it was "the right time" for him to leave the company, adding that it had been "a proud journey" and achievements, because many of you, and many others before us have made HBO a cultural and commercial phenomenon. The memo continues:

It was the great joy of my professional life to share this race with you over these many years. And the great honor of my professional life being your CEO. I do not have the words to express my gratitude for the support and talent that made our success possible. But suffice it to say that my love for this place and for you all is deeply part of me and will last a lifetime.

Plepler's achievements over the past three decades in society can not be underestimated. Variety has emphasized its influence by giving the go-ahead to such HBO plants as Game of thrones and Veep. He has also been involved in the development of HBO Go and HBO Now.

AT & T's controversial merger with what was formerly Time Warner, HBO's parent company, was secured last summer after the Justice Department failed to prove that the deal would hurt consumers. As noted by Vanity Fair, the news of Plepler's departure comes days after a federal court of appeal approves of the multi-billion dollar acquisition of AT & T. Ni WarnerMedia, as it is now known. nor did HBO immediately return requests for comment.

The release also comes as AT & T prepares for the launch of its new streaming service, which will be equipped with HBO. An HBO source told Vanity Fair that Plepler's departure was "bad news for AT & T, who will own the brand but not the talent." And this could put AT & T in a difficult position, as it expects virtually every other streaming service to be launched this year. – and there are many, including an Apple. It should be interesting.

[Variety]