Nat Geo Creates Global Media Group

WASHINGTON, October 24: National Geographic has created a
new Global Media group composed of its various magazine, book publishing,
television, film, music, radio, digital media and maps units, to be headed up
by Tim Kelly as president.

Kelly, currently the president and CEO of National
Geographic Ventures, will continue to report to John Fahey, the president and
CEO of the National Geographic Society. Kelly's leadership team will expand to
include John Q. Griffin, the executive VP of the National Geographic Society
and president of the magazine group, and Nina Hoffman, the executive VP of the
Society and president of book publishing.

Kelly will continue to oversee National Geographic Ventures,
National Geographic's wholly owned subsidiary that includes National Geographic
Television, National Geographic Cinema Ventures, National Geographic Films,
National Geographic Kids Entertainment, National Geographic Home Entertainment,
National Geographic Digital Media, National Geographic Music & Radio,
National Geographic Maps and National Geographic's interests in the National
Geographic Channels.

Kelly has played a key leadership role for more than 20
years with National Geographic. He was the catalyst and chief advocate for the
development of the joint venture that launched the National Geographic
Channels. Kelly was also involved with the formation of a global television
distribution company, a giant-screen production and distribution arm, and the
creation of a feature film division that was involved in the Academy
Award-winning film March of the Penguins.

"This new combined structure is an important step in
the evolution of our work in this exciting and rapidly changing digital
world," said Fahey. "Our goal is to enhance and broaden coordination
among our editorial units, refine our digital content strategies and better
serve our members, our partners and our mission. Tim has lived and breathed
National Geographic for more than 25 years and brings a unique combination of
business skills and creativity to this important assignment. He's the right
person at the right time to help us find even more effective ways to inspire
people to care about the planet."

—By Irene Lew