In an email to his staff, Walton said "CNN needs new thinking."

“That starts with a new leader who brings a different perspective, different experiences and
a new plan, one who will build on our great foundation and will commit to seeing it
through," he said.

Walton said he's been talking to his boss, Turner Broadcasting Chairman Phil Kent about
leaving for the past few months.

Walton, 54, began working at CNN in 1981 shortly after it started. His first job involved ripping paper scripts off wire machines and operating the TelePrompter for news anchors.

CNN is owned by Time Warner.

No descendant is named for Walton, who has been with the network for over 30 years and has
run it for close to a decade.