Richard Parsons, Time Warner CEO Who Helped Save Apollo Theater, Dies at 76
Richard "Dick" Parsons, former Time Warner CEO and influential business leader, passed away Thursday in Manhattan at age 76 due to bone cancer.
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Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav praised Parsons as "a great person, friend, and leader" who combined exceptional leadership with integrity and kindness. His impact on Time Warner and the industry made him a sought-after advisor.
Born in Brooklyn in 1948, Parsons graduated top of his class from Albany Law School. His career began working for Nelson Rockefeller before joining Time Warner's board. As CEO, he successfully reduced the company's debt following the AOL merger by selling assets like Warner Music Group and the Atlanta Hawks.
After stepping down as Time Warner CEO in 2007, Parsons served in various leadership roles:
- Chairman of Citigroup
- Interim CEO of Los Angeles Clippers (2014)
- Interim chairman of CBS Corp. (2018)
- Advisor to political figures including Barack Obama, Michael Bloomberg, and Rudy Giuliani
His lasting legacy includes saving Harlem's Apollo Theater through a successful fundraising campaign in the 1990s. Despite battling multiple myeloma in recent years, Parsons remained active in advancing diversity through initiatives like co-founding the Equity Alliance, supporting ventures by women and people of color.
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