NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPANDS EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP TEAM — NAMES GEOFFREY GAGNON VP/EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND ALEX POLLACK DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 15, 2024) National Geographic, the worldwide digital, social and print publisher that elevates innovative storytelling about people, places and projects that shape our world, announced today its expanded editorial leadership team with two key appointments: VP and executive editor Geoffrey Gagnon and director of Photography Alex Pollack.

The new hires join the National Geographic Content team led by President Courteney Monroe, which spans linear, streaming, digital, social and print storytelling, with an unrivaled reach of over 871 million followers on social media, generating over 1.1 billion impressions each month. The portfolio’s content reaches over 525 million households, is read by over 80 million people each month, and reaches people in over 172 countries and 33 languages through its compelling storytelling.

Nathan Lump, SVP and editor in chief of National Geographic, said of the new hires: “As we continue to evolve our storytelling for modern consumers, building on our brand’s storied history and trusted reputation, I could not be more thrilled to welcome to National Geographic these two incredibly forward-thinking veterans of the media industry, who bring decades of combined experience in their respective fields and a track record of leading innovative work that keeps brands highly engaging and relevant.”

Reporting to Editor-in-Chief Lump as VP and executive editor, Gagnon will lead the development and execution of National Geographic’s text content and play a key role in overseeing the brand’s print products — National Geographic magazine, National Geographic Kids and Little Kids magazines, National Geographic History magazine and newsstand special editions— while also developing ambitious storytelling for its digital platforms and beyond.

Gagnon joins National Geographic from GQ, where he spent a decade, most recently as global features director and previously as executive editor of GQ U.S. At GQ, he focused on feature stories and profiles and helped to helm the brand’s film and television efforts, GQ Studios, finding new ways to extend GQ’s storytelling on screen. Prior to joining Condé Nast, Gagnon played a key role in launching Politico Magazine and worked as a senior editor at The Atlantic.

Also reporting to Lump as the new director of Photography, Pollack will oversee National Geographic’s photographic commissioning, acquisition and research, including photo-led story development, studio photography and photo engineering, for the brand’s editorial products and platforms.

Pollack joins National Geographic from Bustle Digital Group, where she served as Group Photo director, overseeing all aspects of photography in digital and print across seven media brands, including Bustle and Nylon. Prior to Bustle, Pollack spent two years contracting with Apple and served as the visual director of Goop’s printed magazine and freelance visual director at Goop Digital. Before that, Pollack spent six years as visuals director at Bon Appetit — where she played a key role in refreshing the visual identity of the brand — following an early career start as a photo editor at New York Magazine.

Pollack and Gagnon join additional recent senior hires on the National Geographic editorial team, including Oussama Zahr, director of Editorial Operations, and Claire Manibog, director of Interactive Storytelling.

Press Assets: HERE

Media Contact:
Anna Kukelhaus
Director, Communications – National Geographic
anna.kukelhaus@natgeo.com
202.258.8020

About National Geographic Content
Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and exploration. The brand is the largest on social media with over three quarters of a billion followers across all major platforms that generate over one billion impressions each month. Inspiring a deeper connection to the world, National Geographic Content reaches 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. For more information, visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or follow Nat Geo on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Reddit.