MUMBAI: National Geographic has formed a new global media group composed of its film, music, magazine, book publishing, television, radio, digital media and maps units. Tim Kelly, 51, president and CEO of National Geographic Ventures, has been named president, Global Media.

The announcement was made by National Geographic Society, president and CEO, John Fahey to whom Kelly will continue to report.

Fahey said, “This new combined structure is an important step in the evolution of our work in this exciting and rapidly changing digital world. 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.”

Kelly’s leadership team will expand to include of the National Geographic Society, executive vice president and president of the Magazine Group, John Q. Griffin, and executive vice president of the Society and president of Book Publishing, Nina Hoffman.

National Geographic Magazine Group includes the English-language versions of National Geographic magazine, National Geographic Traveler, National Geographic Adventure, NG Kids and the newly published NG Little Kids. National Geographic Books publishes hundreds of titles annually for trade, library and direct-mail sales.

Kelly will continue to oversee National Geographic Ventures, National Geographic’s wholly owned taxable 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 commented, “We have a superb magazine publisher in John Q. Griffin, who has already successfully crossed the digital divide in heading up our unified cross-media ad sales team. And Nina Hoffman runs our highly successful book publishing operations with great creativity and discipline. Combined with our television and electronic assets, we deliver the best, the most fascinating content about this planet in exactly the form any consumer will demand — from books, magazines, television specials and rich broadband content to the latest in 3-D digital theatrical movies. And that is the point — these media are merging, so our organization must evolve to take advantage of myriad new opportunities.”