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Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav told rattled staffers that the company\u2019s abrupt pivot to a Paramount Skydance<\/a> tie-up felt \u201cwhiplash-y\u201d \u2014 while insisting the media giant had no choice but to bulk up or risk getting steamrolled.<\/p>\n \u201cFor even us, the speed \u2014 it feels a little whiplash-y,\u201d Zaslav said during a Friday morning town hall, adding that executives were still \u201cgetting our bearings.\u201d His comments were first reported by Business Insider<\/a> after the town hall meeting audio was leaked. <\/p>\n Still, he struck an upbeat tone about the blockbuster deal, telling employees, \u201cTogether, we can be a great company.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not easy, but we\u2019re getting bigger, and we\u2019re getting stronger,\u201d Zaslav told his charges on Friday.<\/p>\n Zaslav framed the transaction as existential, telling employees: \u201cIf Warner Bros. is going to survive, then we needed to be bigger, and we needed to be global.\u201d<\/p>\n Zaslav was slated to receive $567.6 million if Warner Bros. Discovery sold, according to a Forbes report in December. $537.6 million of in equity and $30 million in compensation.<\/p>\n