CNN commercial arm names COO

CNN International Commercial (CNNIC), the international news channel’s commercial arm, has named Phil Nelson as chief operating officer to lead CNN’s operational and international growth initiatives outside of advertising sales.

Phil Nelson

Nelson will oversee CNNIC’s business development and strategy, finance, strategic planning and international sales operations as well as content sales and licensing. This includes managing and growing CNN’s relationships with some 300 digital, broadcast and out of home content partners from local CNN branded channels to airlines and hotels that carry CNN content live and on-demand.

Previously, Nelson was managing director, Turner North Asia and southeast Asia Pacific. In this role, he has overseen all aspects of Turner’s business in these regions including distribution of CNN International and taking a key role in establishing local partners CNN Indonesia and CNN Philippines.

Nelson has also held other business development and strategic planning roles at Turner and has digital experience from his time at AOL, culminating in serving as managing director for AOL Asia.

He will report directly to Rani Raad, president of CNNIC, and will work with a range of divisions across CNN and WarnerMedia. He will continue to be based in Singapore in the near-term.

“The CNNIC business has continually evolved since it was created back in 2013 to optimise the revenue, brand and commercial partnerships across our dynamic offering of CNN content and products. I am delighted that Phil joins us as we enter the next chapter of our business in a role that brings together all the operational, strategic and non-advertising sales revenue under one leadership. Phil has a first-rate track record at Turner and will bring a unique skillset of business acumen, creative thinking and forensic focus,” said Raad.

“After many successful and exciting years at Turner Asia, I am very pleased that my next move is within the WarnerMedia family to a brand as remarkable as CNN. CNNIC has done a great job in innovating and adapting its business to stay ahead of the competition during a period of unprecedented change in the news and media industry. I am looking forward to contributing to this success in the years to come,” said Nelson.