Steve Spira is resigning his post as business affairs chief at Warner Bros.’ motion picture group.
This was the second tour of duty for the 40-year veteran of the studio, who first came to the Burbank lot in 1985. Spira will finish out the end of the year before moving on, Variety has learned.
Spira left for the first time in the fraught era of AT&T’s stewardship of the legendary studio. He was brought back in 2022 by David Zaslav, when the Discovery CEO set new creative leadership in Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy. Leadership will take a beat before considering his replacement, though one studio insider said it’s likely the post will go to someone from Spira’s existing team.
While not triggered by the current deal conversations surrounding Warner Bros. Discovery, Spira’s exit comes as the company is considering multiple buyers for both its studios and linear networks operations. David Ellison’s Paramount, Netflix and Comcast are top suitors in a process expected to escalate next week after renewed bids come through on Dec. 1. The company said it will consider proposals in which the Warner Bros. business (HBO Max and studios) is sold separately from Discovery Global, the TV-centric label, which aligns with Warner Bros. Discovery’s ongoing plan to split into two companies by April 2026.
Spira is regarded as a key holder of institutional memory at Warner Bros., which made him a trusted early advisor to Zaslav following a few turbulent years under his predecessor Jason Kilar. Spira was adept at corralling and motivating talent and staff alike – a valuable skill set for a man known for his nearly 20 grandchildren. His notable deals included long engagements with Christopher Nolan and Clint Eastwood.
