Nat Geo Bolsters Digital Team

National Geographic has strengthened its digital team with three new hires, Marcus East, Marcelo Galdieri and Jonathan Hunt.

East joins National Geographic as the executive VP of product and technology. He will be responsible for leading the teams that delivers world-class digital consumer experiences, and for designing and implementing an intelligent platform and architecture strategy in partnership with 21st Century Fox and Fox Networks Group. East joins National Geographic from Marks and Spencer, where he ran e-commerce, digital product, digital operations and technology platforms. Previously, East ran e-commerce solutions for Apple in EMEA, and then moved to Apple in Cupertino, California, to lead a product group at the company’s headquarters. Prior to joining Apple, East led technology for Comic Relief, one of the U.K.’s biggest pro-social organizations.

Galdieri is coming on board National Geographic as the senior VP of digital product focused on international digital offerings and identity and relationship tools. Galdieri will oversee the team responsible for the design, development and implementation of the localized, unified National Geographic web and mobile web products across international territories, and the company’s localized native mobile app, multi-format offering. Galdieri joins National Geographic after 20 years at MasterCard, where he was the senior VP of global consumer digital programs.

In addition, Hunt joins National Geographic’s digital team as the senior VP of audience development and digital strategy. Hunt will be responsible for scaling social audiences and community engagement across its key platforms such as its editorial and global TV networks’ Facebook and Instagram fan communities, Snapchat Discover platform and Your Shot platform; expanding the company’s social video capabilities; and partnering with sales to grow digital revenue across National Geographic digital and social channels and products. Hunt was previously the VP at Vox Media. Prior to Vox Media, Hunt worked at VICE.

Both East and Hunt will report to Webber, while Galdieri will lead a product group on East’s team.

“We’re thrilled that Marcus, Marcelo and Jonathan have joined to help scale our digital products and communities in ways that bring the National Geographic brand and experience to more audiences,” said Rachel Webber, the executive VP of digital product. “On digital platforms, the National Geographic yellow border becomes a portal for audiences to explore the world around them. While we have a running head-start with the number one most followed brand on social media, attracting 350 million social followers on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn, and a big fan base across our owned offerings, we still have more to do to live up to the mission and potential of this brand online. Marcus, Marcelo and Jonathan have strong track records in aggregating audiences and building engaging relationships with communities through smart product, social and video solutions for some of the world’s most beloved brands. We want to utilize their experience and expertise to drive National Geographic’s mission forward for audiences on all platforms.”