Bell will be based in CNN’s New York offices and takes over from Atlanta-based Rick Lewchuk.
CNN Worldwide has named Otto Bell as SVP and Chief Creative Officer, overseeing the creative marketing department and reporting to Kristine Coratti Kelly, the EVP and Head of Global Communications.
Bell joins CNN after eight years as Founder and CCO of Courageous, the commercial brand studio for CNN. He now oversees on-air and off-channel brand and marketing for all CNN Worldwide businesses including CNN, CNN International, CNN Digital and CNN en Español.
In his eight years at Courageous, Bell worked closely with numerous CNN teams to deliver hundreds of campaigns for hundreds of advertisers; all while pioneering profitable new revenue streams such as brand-funded Short Form Documentaries, Events and Experiences, VR/AR, Live Advertising, High Impact Digital Takeovers, Podcasts, Feature Films and Series.
Prior to Courageous, Bell helped found and lead Ogilvy’s Entertainment practice. As Creative Director he developed new media models and produced numerous brand-funded television series with partners such as BBC World News, CNBC, Nat Geo and Discovery.
In addition to his work in the corporate world, Bell is also an acclaimed independent Documentary Director and Producer. His debut feature The Eagle Huntress premiered at Sundance and sold to Sony Pictures Classics. It became the highest-grossing documentary of the year, was nominated for BAFTA, PGA, DGA Awards and shortlisted for the Best Documentary Oscar. Bell’s other work includes The Toxic Pigs of Fukushima which premiered at Telluride, sold to Vice, and was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy. He is currently in post-production on his next documentary feature, The Badass Librarians of Timbuktu based on the NYT bestseller of the same title.
Bell has won every major creative award in the advertising industry – including over 300 while at Courageous.
Bell is based out of CNN’s New York bureau.
