In October 2007 Tim Kelly was appointed president of the new National Geographic Global Media group, comprising National Geographic's magazine, book publishing, television, film, music & radio, digital media and maps units. The Global Media group was created to enhance coordination among National Geographic editorial units, to refine its digital media content strategies and to better serve National Geographic's members, partners and mission.



In his new capacity heading the Global Media group, Kelly reports to NGS President and CEO John Fahey as to the Society's media interests within the new group. Kelly continues to serve as president and CEO of National Geographic Ventures (NGV), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Geographic Society, reporting to its board of directors. NGV creates and distributes content across multiple platforms and media, holding and managing the Society's interest in the National Geographic Channel (both domestic and international).



Previously, Kelly was president of National Geographic Television & Film, where he managed the expansion from a documentary production operation to a multifaceted production, distribution and digital media company. Key to this expansion was his central role in the development of the joint venture that launched the National Geographic Channel. Other new additions include the formation of a global television distribution company, National Geographic Television International (NGTI), and a giant-screen film production and distribution arm, National Geographic Cinema Ventures, which is responsible for producing some of that industry's highest-grossing and most acclaimed films to date.



Kelly has overseen the development of National Geographic Films and National Geographic World Films (NGWF). Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature, "March of the Penguins," set records for theatrical documentary box office take, hitting $75 million by mid-October 2005. The first release from NGWF, Academy Award-nominated "The Story of the Weeping Camel," won the Directors Guild Award.



For 23 years Kelly has also been responsible for a wide array of National Geographic television and film production, including documentaries airing on National Geographic Channel (U.S. and International), NBC, PBS, Fox, CNBC and MSNBC. He created one of the world's renowned natural history production units that wins key industry awards and sets high standards. Under his direction, National Geographic Television productions have won more than 129 Emmy Awards and over 1,000 other industry accolades. In 2002 he established a Kids Entertainment unit in Los Angeles, which launched its first special on Noggin in 2006.



Kelly serves on the National Geographic Channel (both the U.S. and International) boards. He also is a member of the National Geographic Ventures board and the National Geographic Channel/Europe board. He also has served as a board member for the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.



A native of Colorado and a finance graduate of the University of Colorado, Kelly lives in Washington, D.C. He is married and has two children.