Phil Nelson has been named to lead CNN Worldwide’s international business operations and work with commercial partners outside of the United States.

Nelson is responsible for all international Advertising Sales, Content Sales & licensing, and Commercial Distribution revenue, as well as related client solutions function such as the award-winning Create brand studio and world-class digital and data operations, as Executive Vice President of CNN International Commercial (CNNIC).

Nelson also collaborates with partners across Warner Bros. Discovery on areas such as CNN International’s distribution strategy and collaboration on digital operations and ad sales to provide more opportunities for brand partners to access news and other genres across the portfolio in this role.

Nelson joins CNN Worldwide’s leadership team and reports to Chris Marlin, the network’s Group Executive Vice President of Business Operations & Strategy.

Nelson has been CNNIC’s Chief Operating Officer since 2019. He is responsible for operational and international growth initiatives, as well as advertising sales support functions.

Nelson previously served as Managing Director, Turner North Asia and South East Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for all aspects of Turner’s operations in these regions.

He previously held other business development and strategic planning roles at Turner since joining in 2010, and he has extensive digital experience from his time as Managing Director for AOL Asia at AOL.

Nelson also has an MBA from Harvard University and served as a commander in the United States Navy before entering the corporate world.