Warner Bros. Discovery chief says goodbye after merger closes; HubSpot says layoffs are not because of AI

Greetings, comms pros! Let’s take a look at a few news stories from the last week and see what we can learn from them.

1. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO bids farewell to employees after Paramount merger concludes

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav signed off from his post in a farewell video earlier this week following his company’s completed merger with Paramount, forming Skydance. In the transcript of the video obtained by Deadline, Zaslav reflected on the work of Warner Bros. Discovery accomplished over the years and credited employees with bringing it to life.

But none of those moments happened on their own. Behind every one of those moments is the work, talent, and commitment of everyone who does their part to bring it all to life. And that is what matters. Honoring the work that came before us, doing our part to carry it forward, and knowing that the work continues.

For me, it’s been a great honor to be alongside all of you. I hope you take pride in what you’ve built, what you’ve created, and the role you’ve played in shaping an extraordinary history.

What’s past is prologue. The future waits for each and every one of you. For your spirit, your ingenuity, your creativity and your courage.

Zaslav’s goodbye message hits all the notes you’d expect from a leader of a company that’s sunsetting, but it also leaves out any mention of Skydance or more detail on what lies ahead. His message focuses on the employees and their accomplishments, and in the moment the decision to keep things focused on culture and people is an understandable choice.

Since Zaslav isn’t leading the new company, he doesn’t speak for it in his note. Rather than looking ahead to what the Skydance has in store for employees, he focuses on what those employees will accomplish in their careers. Zaslav’s memo accomplishes what a good message from a departing leader should; reflect about the accomplishments and then leave that next chapter to whoever is writing it.

2. HubSpot lays off 7% of workforce, denying AI was a factor

HubSpot sent a memo to its employees informing them that the company is cutting 660 roles this week. CEO Yamini Rangan said that unlike many other job cuts these days, this one isn’t due to automation. In a subsection of the note entitled “What this is not about”, Rangan dispelled any connection to AI and the layoffs.

This is not driven by AI-related efficiencies. We believe in a world where AI helps make us more productive and we will continue to invest to make that happen. This change is about aligning our organization with our strategy and how we need to operate going forward.

This is not simply a cost-cutting exercise. We have been thoughtful about how we invest in AI while balancing growth and profitability. We have been disciplined about growing headcount slower than revenue, and we will continue to do so. This change is about where and how we invest so we can put more resources behind our biggest opportunities.

The memo also outlined details about benefits for affected employees and what to expect going forward for those who remained.

By ruling out AI as a factor in the layoffs in a plainly worded paragraph, Rangan doesn’t let employees wonder whether tech is why the company is cutting jobs. In addition, the memo clearly states the real reason for the layoffs: a flattening structure needed for better customer outcomes.

The note also emphasizes that AI is still very much part of the work equation at HubSpot and that she expects employees to use it to make them more productive. As layoff memos go, this one communicates the news as well as it can because it’s transparent about the reason for the job cuts and just as clear about what the cuts aren’t about, which can help take away speculation by remaining employees.

3. Baltimore Orioles tell employees the organization is cutting jobs — including people playing the mascot

Not long after the conclusion of their 2026 season, the Baltimore Orioles notified employees that they’re cutting jobs in their business operations department, including one of several people who play the team’s beloved mascot, Oriole Bird. In a memo obtained by The Baltimore Sun, Orioles president of business operations Catie Griggs wrote about the changes and expressed gratitude for the affected employees, including those who had been with the team for some time.

“Today we made difficult changes to our business, reshaping some roles and reporting lines and saying goodbye to colleagues,” Griggs wrote. “Some of the people leaving have been here for more than a decade, others for a much shorter time, and every one of them was part of our team. To many of you, they are friends as well as coworkers. For those of you who have been here a long time, today may also feel like losing part of what this place has been. That history matters, and it remains part of who we are. We’re grateful for what each of them gave this organization.”

She also wrote that the layoffs weren’t intended to simply reduce the number of employees working for the team.

“These decisions were about making sure our teams are built and staffed for the work ahead, not about reducing headcount,” she wrote in the memo. “We’re continuing to recruit for critical roles and will add talent in areas where we have clear needs.”

Internal communicators should keep in mind that a major league team like the Orioles is part of the city’s identity, even as a private multibillion-dollar business. Griggs’ memo communicates with both internal and external audiences. It tries to soothe employees who will surely wonder what’s next for their roles and fans who may speculate if this will potentially lead to worse results on the field.

4. How about some good news?

• Skywatchers will be treated to multiple meteor showers this October.
• Underwater umbrellas have shown promise in protecting coral reefs.
• NASA is bringing wireless technology and internet to the moon.
• Ragan Training is an excellent place for communications professionals to find inspiration and valuable resources.
• You should be rewarded for your work. Find out how to earn an award here!

Sean Devlin the senior internal communications editor at Ragan. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.