CNN International Commercial appoints Phil Nelson as chief operating officer

CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) has appointed Phil Nelson as chief operating officer to lead CNN’s operational and international growth initiatives outside of advertising sales. Nelson will oversee CNNIC’s business development and strategy, finance, strategic planning and international sales operations as well as its content sales and licensing. This includes managing and growing CNN’s relationships with over 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. As part of the CNNIC senior management team, Nelson will continue to be based in Singapore reporting directly into Rani Raad, president of CNNIC. “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,” said Raad. “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 skill set of business acumen, creative thinking and forensic focus.” Prior to joining CNNIC, Nelson was managing director, Turner North Asia and South East 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 since he joined in 2010 and has significant digital experience from his time at AOL, culminating in him being managing director for AOL Asia.