Bruce Rosenblum said he is "disappointed" to be passed over for the top job at Warner Bros., but expressed confidence in newly appointed CEO Kevin Tsujihara.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed; who wouldn't be?" Rosenblum, head of television at the studio, said in a statement. "Warner Bros. is a unique and special place and I know it will be in good hands with Kevin at the helm. I continue to be proud of our accomplishments and I have the most respect and admiration for our amazing team at the studio -- a team that is thriving in an ever-transforming business."
Tsujihara, head of Warner Bros. home entertainment division, beat both Rosenblum and movie head Jeff Robinov for the CEO job. All three were in quiet competition for more than a year, once Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes decided to choose Warner Bros. new chief executive for the movie and television studio from among the three co-presidents.
Many believed that the ambitious Roseblum had the inside track for the job, in part because past chiefs like Meyer and Bob Daly came from the TV business. Rosenblum was named president of Warner Bros. Television Group in September 2005.
Robinov said in a statement he was "truly happy and proud of Kevin."
"We are both good friends and colleagues and I think he's an excellent choice for the job. The Company will be in great shape under his leadership," he said.
Robinov had no immediate comment.
Rosenblum has led the television studio during a period of great successes -- and troubing situations. Among the highest-profile was dealing with the Charlie Sheen meltdown that eventually led to his removal from "Two and a Half Men" and replacement with Ashton Kutcher.
This season, Warner Bros. TV is producing more than 60 series, including the top-rated sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS and NBC's "Revolution," the top-rated new show of the fall. The studio's other shows include CBS's "The Mentalist" and "Mike & Molly," and ABC's "The Middle."
In May, Rosenblum told TheWrap that he has told his team not to get distracted by succession speculation.
"Our job and what I’ve expressed to everyone on the TV team is we need to keep our heads down and do our jobs as well as we can do it," he said. "We cannot be distracted by speculation, and everything will work out in the end.”
