Knell Named President, CEO Of National Geographic Partners

National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between  21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society, named Gary Knell as president and CEO of National Geographic Partners.

Knell, who has been president and CEO of the National Geographic Society since 2014, succeeds Declan Moore, who is leaving the company.

In his new role as CEO of National Geographic Partners, effective March 1, Knell will oversee all of National Geographic’s global storytelling assets, including the television, magazine, print and digital operations, licensing and travel expeditions

The National Geographic Channel is one of the assets 21st Century Fox has agreed to sell to the Walt Disney Co.

“Declan has been a tremendous champion of National Geographic, and his steady leadership in the founding of National Geographic Partners has created a foundation for it to thrive as one of the world’s most iconic media brands for years to come,” said Peter Rice, president of 21st Century Fox. “Gary is ideally situated to build on that momentum. Nobody understands National Geographic better than Gary, and his breadth of media experience, strategic mindset and global perspective make him the perfect leader of the organization at this exciting time of transformation.”

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.