Courteney Monroe is president of National Geographic, overseeing the
brand’s print and digital offerings, its vast social media
footprint, National Geographic Documentary Films, as well as all Nat
Geo content produced for National Geographic television networks and
direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu.

Monroe has led a significant transformation of the more than
138-year-old global brand, modernizing it for the digital age and
turning it into a destination for creatively ambitious storytelling
that inspires a deeper connection to our world. With her at the helm,
National Geographic continues to be one of the most-followed brands on
social media with over 800 million followers across all its social
media channels. She’s also transformed the brand into a port of call
for A-list creative talent, including Darren Aronofsky, Awkwafina,
Angela Bassett, David Blaine, James Cameron, Jimmy Chin, Ryan Coogler,
Jon Favreau, Brian Grazer, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Ron
Howard, Natalie Portman, Will Smith, Stanley Tucci, Mariana van Zeller
and E. Chai Vasarhelyi, just to name a few.

Under Monroe’s leadership, National Geographic has garnered more
critical acclaim and award recognition than ever before. Highlights
include Vasarhelyi and Chin’s Oscar®- and BAFTA-winning “Free
Solo”; Oscar-nominated films Feras Fayyad’s “The Cave,” Sara
Dosa’s “Fire of Love,” Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo’s
Peabody-winning “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” and Julian
Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie’s “Sugarcane”; Alex Pritz’s
Peabody-winning “The Territory”; scripted series “A Small
Light,” which won a Humanitas Award; and Emmy® Award-winning series
“Queens,” “Secrets of the Whales” and various installments in
the “One Day in America” franchise, including “9/11: One Day in
America” and “JFK: One Day in America.” In 2024, National
Geographic’s hit series “Life Below Zero” won its seventh Emmy
for Best Cinematography, making it the most-winning reality TV show in
history for the category. In 2025, the brand received a record 46
nominations at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, including 29 for
“Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller,” making it the most-nominated
title overall. What’s more, National Geographic’s critically
acclaimed storytelling delivers measurable real-world impact, with
projects like “Ocean with David Attenborough” helping to
accelerate Greece’s efforts to safeguard life below the waves and
catalyze major marine protections.

Monroe has propelled National Geographic beyond the iconic pages of
its magazine, establishing the brand at the forefront of today’s
digital landscape. By spearheading innovative and immersive
journalistic projects, she has ensured National Geographic’s
continued relevance while maintaining its unmatched social media
reach. In 2024, the Society of Publication Designers named National
Geographic its Brand of the Year, one of the most prestigious awards
in the publishing industry. Additionally, the brand was recognized
with eight Webby Awards and seven People’s Voice Awards.

Monroe is widely recognized as a trusted, collaborative leader who
builds winning team cultures and delivers strong results. She first
joined National Geographic Channels U.S. in 2012 as chief marketing
officer, managing the brand and all aspects of promotion, as well as
consumer and trade communications. From there, she was elevated to CEO
of National Geographic Channels U.S. and then CEO of National
Geographic Global Television Networks before taking on her current
role. Prior to National Geographic, she was executive vice president
of Consumer Marketing and Digital Platforms for HBO, where she was
responsible for marketing the HBO and Cinemax brands and their
programming across all platforms.
