News Broadcasting
Ellana Lee takes charge of CNN’s new global productions unit in expanded APAC leadership role
MUMBAI: CNN has handed a major new brief to Ellana Lee, elevating her to group senior vice president, general manager APAC, and global head of productions. The expanded role places her at the helm of a newly created global productions team, which will spearhead all multi-platform sponsored content across CNN’s global network.
The move, effective immediately, builds on Lee’s 25-year tenure at CNN, where she most recently served as SVP, managing editor for Asia Pacific, and global head of features content. She led the launch of award-winning editorial properties like Call to Earth and steered CNN’s features division into a global storytelling powerhouse.
As global head of productions, Lee will now guide the creation and distribution of sponsored content across digital, television and other platforms. The remit also includes building out new roles in the U.S. to expand CNN’s existing features team, which currently operates from hubs in Atlanta, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and London.
“Under Ellana’s leadership, our Features team has consistently innovated, delivering award-winning, multi-platform, editorially robust and engaging feature content that has attracted commercial partnerships with some of the world’s most dynamic and successful brands,” said CNN Worldwide managing editor Mike McCarthy. “She will now bring that experience, creativity and skill to bear across the network.”
Lee will remain based in Hong Kong, continuing as CNN’s most senior executive outside the United States. In her ongoing role as APAC head, she will retain oversight of CNN’s editorial strategy across the region, including programming, correspondent deployment and eight editorial operations.
The appointment signals CNN’s intent to integrate editorial innovation with brand-driven storytelling at scale, tapping Lee’s track record in building meaningful global content ecosystems.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
