National Geographic hires Plimsoll’s Alex Ranken as commissioning editor

Disney-owned National Geographic has appointed former Plimsoll Studios exec Alex Ranken as commissioning editor.

Alex Ranken

Ranken will report to Janet Han Vissering, senior VP of development and production for natural history, within the team of National Geographic content executive VP Tom McDonald.

Based in the UK, Ranken will commission across the full range of natural history titles, from blue-chip to kids and family, as well as emerging formats such as immersive content.

An Emmy-winning programme maker, Ranken was most recently creative director of both wildlife and kids and family at Plimsoll Studios, where he also led the company’s immersive department.

His recent credits include Secret Garden with David Attenborough (BBC One), A Real Bug’s Life (Disney+), Tiny World (Apple TV), The Wild Ones (Apple TV) and Stephen Fry’s A Year on Planet Earth (ITV).

Ranken has worked with Nat Geo before, winning a Children’s and Family Emmy for A Real Bug’s Life.