CNN Worldwide has appointed Rani Raad as president, CNN Commercial, a new global role meant to broaden the company’s new business streams and increase the value that CNN provides to commercial partners around the world.
Raad will work closely with WarnerMedia Sales and International on its CNN advertising and distribution activity, lead international business through CNN International Commercial, optimize CNN Worldwide’s directly controlled revenue operations and maximize the commercial potential of development of new products.
Raad, who steps into the role today, reports directly to WarnerMedia chairman of news and sports and president of CNN Worldwide Jeff Zucker.
“There has never been a more important time to be strategic and purposeful about revenue generation across the platforms of CNN Worldwide,” Zucker said in a statement. “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, he combined all business operations of CNN’s properties outside of the U.S. within the division CNN International Commercial, including advertising, sponsorship, content sales and licensing, out of home, marketing, and audiences and data. Since then, as president of CNN International Commercial, Raad has developed the business by introducing a cross-platform and data-led strategy with increased digital capabilities, tailored for a wide range of client and market needs across more than 200 countries and territories.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a time when CNN has been so influential, both in the U.S. and internationally,” Raad added. “An era of structural change in the media market, the increased demand for verified news and the economic impact of Covid-19 are fundamentally changing the way we need to work with our business partners. With our premium brand, sophisticated solutions and worldwide reach, it’s now more important than ever before that our business partners, wherever they are, have greater and faster access to CNN’s full suite of global capabilities.”