CNN Worldwide has appointed Rani Raad as President, CNN Commercial to a new global role through which it plans to broaden its new business streams.
Raad will work closely with WarnerMedia Sales and International on its CNN advertising and distribution activity and lead international business through CNN International Commercial. He’ll report directly to Jeff Zucker, Chairman, WarnerMedia News and Sports & President, CNN Worldwide.
“There has never been a more important time to be strategic and purposeful about revenue generation across the platforms of CNN Worldwide,” said Zucker. “By aligning Rani and his team more closely with the rest of the CNN organization, there is no doubt it will make a big difference in our ability to find new ways of doing business and enhanced opportunities for our clients around the world.”
Raad, a CNN veteran of 22 years, started his career at the company in New York before holding a number of senior international roles with CNN and WarnerMedia. In 2013, Raad combined all business operations of CNN’s properties outside of the United States within the division CNN International Commercial.
Raad said, “I don’t think I have ever seen a time when CNN has been so influential, both in the US and internationally. An era of structural change in the media market, the increased demand for verified news and the economic impact of Covid-19 is fundamentally changing the way we need to work with our business partners.”
