Nat Geo refreshes global team

National Geographic Partners (NGP) has made several key appointments across the world, including in Latin America and the Middle East, as it continues to reshape its staff following last year’s takeover by Fox.

Deborah Armstrong

Lorenzo Orozco has been named general manager and senior VP for NGP in Latin America. He was previously general manager for Fox International Channels in Mexico, where he doubled revenues in four years and oversaw the launch of digital business Fox+ Broadband.

He will be based in Mexico City with responsibility for growing NGP revenue in Lat Am across channels, publishing, digital and travel. He will report to Edgar Spielmann, chief operating officer for Fox Networks Group (FNG) Latin America.

Con Apostolopoulos has been named general manager and VP for NGP in Asia Pacific and Middle East. He was previously VP of partnerships for FNG Asia Pacific but will now manage the NGP business in the region including channels, publishing, digital, kids, travel and licensing.

Apostolopoulos will report to Rohit D’Silva, executive VP of commercial for Asia for FNG Asia Pacific Middle East, in addition to reporting to Platt. He will continue to be based in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Deborah Armstrong, currently executive VP for Europe and Africa at FNG, will add oversight of the NGP business across the two continents to her responsibilities.

Armstrong joined National Geographic Channel in Asia in 1998 and was instrumental in the growth of the channel business in Asia and Europe across various functions, including advertising sales, marketing and communications. Armstrong will remain based in London.

Whit Higgins, previously VP of business development and global programming for National Geographic Channels International, has now been promoted to senior VP of strategic planning and business development for NGP.

Higgins was the general manager for Fox International Channels Finland for four years and launched the Fox free-to-air channel and National Geographic Channel Finland in the market.

Carlyn Staudt, previously senior VP for National Geographic’s International Channel group, has moved into a new role as senior VP of content partnerships for NGP.

Staudt will be responsible for managing NGP’s relationship with Fox Home Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Film & Television Distribution.

The moves follow last year’s takeover of the Nat Geo business by 21st Century Fox and subsequent launch of the joint venture NGP.

That was followed by significant job cuts in November last year and subsequent executive rejigs through Christmas and into the new year.