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.