Athan Stephanopoulos, a New York-based digital entrepreneur who was previously president of NowThis News, a news and media company targeting millennials, will take over as CNN’s chief digital officer.
The role is critical at the media outlet, arguably one of the world’s largest and best-known news brands, where the company strives to attract a new generation of digitally savvy and habituated subscribers to applications like Twitter, TikTok. and Instagram to know the news of the day. Stephanopoulos will oversee global digital activities, including editorial, product, technology, business operations and innovation strategies, and report to CNN CEO Chris Licht.
Stephanopoulos most recently served as president of digital news outlet NowThis, which caters to Generation Z and millennial audiences. He oversaw editorial, revenue, product and technology strategy, audience development and data analysis, and guided the company through its acquisition by Group Nine Media and subsequently when Group Nine was acquired by Vox Media in early 2022.
“CNN’s digital reach around the world is truly unmatched and its digital offering is best-in-class, yet there are still many opportunities for growth and innovation to propel CNN into the future,” Stephanopoulos said. “I look forward to working with Chris and the entire CNN team to drive deeper engagement among existing online audiences, as well as expanding the brand’s digital reach to new audiences around the world.” »
His new role will be huge.
CNN Worldwide is the most recognized news brand, reaching more people on television and online than any other news organization in the United States. Globally, CNN International is the most widely distributed news channel. CNN Digital, which Stephanopoulos will lead, is the leading online news destination, with more unique visitors and viewers than any other news source in the world.
Prior to NowThis, Stephanopoulos was the founder and CEO of Cliptamatic, a social video distribution platform acquired by NowThis in 2014. Paramount Pictures, HBO, ABC News, AMC Networks, MTV, Starz and Saturday Night Live have used the technology company to distribute video.
Stephanopoulos also won an Oscar in 2021 as producer of the film Two Distant Strangers.
Stephanopoulos is a lifetime member of the Council of Foreign Relations and previously served as an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Business at Fordham University in New York, where he taught courses on media entrepreneurship and social media. He has long supported the Greek America Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit organization, which honored him as a member of Greek America’s Forty Under 40s in 2012.
CNN CEO welcomed Stephanopoulos in a company announcement.
“I am thrilled that Athan is joining CNN. His vision for digital journalism, along with his leadership and business acumen, is exactly what we need to build CNN’s digital future,” said Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide.
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