Kia vs Warner Bros. Discovery: Founders, CEOs and History
Kia was founded in 1944 by Kim Chul-ho and is led by Ho Sung Song. Warner Bros. Discovery was founded in 2022 by Harry Warner, John Hendricks and is led by David Zaslav.
Company facts
Kia
- Founded
- 1944
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Current CEO
- Ho Sung Song
- Employees
- 53,200
Warner Bros. Discovery
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- New York, New York
- Current CEO
- David Zaslav
- Employees
- 35,500
Founders
Kia
Kim Chul-ho
Kia possesses a gritty, foundational founding story, rooted in the desperate industrial infancy of Korea, long before it became an automotive leader, starting entirely with the pragmatic, meticulous manufacturing of bicycle parts.
Warner Bros. Discovery
Harry Warner
Harry Warner was the eldest of the four Warner brothers who incorporated Warner Bros. Pictures in 1923 and served as its president. The studio released The Jazz Singer in 1927, one of the first feature films with synchronized dialogue. Warner Bros.
John Hendricks
John Hendricks launched the Discovery Channel in 1985 and built Discovery Communications, the predecessor of Discovery, Inc., which merged with WarnerMedia in 2022 to form Warner Bros. Discovery. He founded the Discovery business, not WBD itself.
CEOs and their tenures
Kia
- Euisun Chung2005–present
Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group; Kia Board Member
Credited with starting the design-led turnaround that changed how buyers saw Kia.
Source - Han-woo Park2014–2020
Former President and CEO
Serving as CEO from 2014 to 2020, he successfully navigated severe geopolitical tensions (like the THAAD missile crisis in China that crushed sales) while heavily upgrading Kia's global brand perception.
Source - Ho Sung Song2020–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Revenue grew from about $41.9 billion (KRW 59 trillion) in 2020 to ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) in 2025, and the operating margin peaked at 11.8% in 2024 before tariffs cut it to 8.0% in 2025.
Source
Warner Bros. Discovery
- David Zaslav2022–present
President and CEO
Led the 2022 merger, the post-merger cost cuts and debt paydown, the 2025 separation plan, and the sale process that produced the Paramount Skydance agreement.
Source - Gunnar Wiedenfels2022–present
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, he acts as CEO David Zaslav's primary hatchet man, enforcing brutal, multi-billion dollar cost-cutting measures to pay down the massive $40 billion debt load from the WarnerMedia merger.
Source
Timeline: Kia and Warner Bros. Discovery side by side
1923Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Pictures Founded
Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner incorporate Warner Bros. Pictures.
1944Kia
Founding of Kyungsung Precision Industry
Kim Chul-ho establishes a modest workshop in Seoul dedicated to the manufacturing of steel tubes and bicycle parts, laying the humble groundwork for what would eventually become a global automotive leader and a vital contributor to South Korea's post-war indus…
1974Kia
Launch of the Brisa, Kia's First Passenger Car
Kia launched the Brisa, its first passenger car, built at the Sohari plant that opened in 1973. Kia had built motorcycles and light trucks before this, and the Brisa made it a carmaker.
1985Warner Bros. Discovery
Discovery Channel Launches
John Hendricks launches the Discovery Channel, the start of the Discovery business.
1986Kia
Launch of the Pride and Global Export Expansion
Through a partnership with Ford and Mazda, Kia returned to passenger cars with the Pride. Abroad it was sold as the Ford Festiva, and it gave Kia its first large export volumes.
1998Kia
Hyundai Motor Acquires Kia
After Kia collapsed in the 1997 Asian financial crisis and went into court receivership, Hyundai Motor won the 1998 auction for it, beating Ford among other bidders. Kia stayed a separate brand within the new Hyundai Motor Group.
2006Kia
Recruitment of Peter Schreyer
The enterprise makes the radical decision to hire former Audi design chief Peter Schreyer as its head of design, initiating a profound aesthetic revolution that introduces the well-known tiger-nose grille and elevates the brand from a budget alternative to a p…
2011Kia
Launch of the Optima and the Design Renaissance
The Schreyer-designed Optima (K5) sedan brought Kia's new design language to a wide audience and helped it charge more and reach new buyers.
2018Warner Bros. Discovery
Acquired Scripps Networks Interactive
Warner Bros. Discovery acquired Scripps Networks Interactive for $14.6 billion.
2020Kia
Announcement of the 'Plan S' Strategy
Kia announced Plan S, its mid- to long-term strategy to move from a combustion-focused carmaker toward EVs, purpose-built vehicles and mobility services. In January 2021 it renamed itself Kia Corporation.
2021Kia
Launch of the EV6 and the E-GMP Platform
The company introduces the award-winning EV6, the first dedicated electric vehicle built on the modular E-GMP platform, showcasing ultra-fast 800-volt charging capabilities and groundbreaking design, instantly establishing the enterprise as a serious technolog…
2022Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery Formed
AT&T spins off WarnerMedia and combines it with Discovery, Inc.; the new company lists on Nasdaq as WBD.
2023Kia
EV9 Launch
Kia launched the EV9, a three-row electric SUV on the E-GMP platform, which went on to win the 2024 World Car of the Year award.
2025Kia
FY2025 Revenue Reaches KRW 114.141 Trillion
Kia sold a record 3,135,873 vehicles and reported FY2025 revenue of ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) (+6.2%). Operating profit fell 28.3% to ~$6.45 billion (KRW 9.08 trillion) as US tariffs cost more than $2.13 billion (KRW 3 trillion).
2025Warner Bros. Discovery
Netflix Wins Sale Process
After putting itself up for sale in October 2025, WBD agrees in December to sell its studios and streaming business to Netflix.
2026Kia
2030 Targets Set at CEO Investor Day
At its April 2026 CEO Investor Day, Kia set 2030 targets of ~$121 billion (KRW 170 trillion) in revenue, a 10% operating margin and 4.13 million sales. Q2 2026 revenue was a record ~$23.5 billion (KRW 33.04 trillion).
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount Skydance Merger Agreement
On February 27, 2026, WBD signs a merger agreement with Paramount Skydance at $31 per share in cash; the Netflix agreement is terminated.
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Stockholders Approve Merger
WBD stockholders approve the Paramount Skydance transaction on April 23, 2026.
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Closing Date Set
After a court approves a settlement with state attorneys general, the companies announce an anticipated closing date of October 6, 2026.
Acquisitions
Kia
- Takeover by Hyundai Motor (Kia acquired)1998Undisclosed
- Asia Motors1976Undisclosed
Warner Bros. Discovery
- WarnerMedia2022$43B
- Scripps Networks Interactive2018$14.6B
Questions about Kia vs Warner Bros. Discovery
Who is the CEO of Kia Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery?
Kia Corporation is led by Ho Sung Song and Warner Bros. Discovery is led by David Zaslav. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Kia Corporation founded vs Warner Bros. Discovery?
Kia Corporation was founded in 1944 — 78 years before Warner Bros. Discovery, which was founded in 2022. Kia Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Warner Bros. Discovery.
How many employees does Kia Corporation have compared to Warner Bros. Discovery?
Kia Corporation employs approximately 53,200 people, while Warner Bros. Discovery employs approximately 35,500. Kia Corporation has the larger workforce at 53,200 employees, compared to Warner Bros. Discovery's 35,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Kia Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery headquartered?
Kia Corporation is headquartered in South Korea and Warner Bros. Discovery is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Kia Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery?
Kia Corporation was founded by Kim Chul-ho. Warner Bros. Discovery was founded by Harry Warner, John Hendricks.
Which company has a longer operating history — Kia Corporation or Warner Bros. Discovery?
Kia Corporation has been operating for approximately 82 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Warner Bros. Discovery has been in operation for around 4 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Kia vs Warner Bros. Discovery overview