CNN announced this morning that Tony Maddox will head CNN International…

Journalist and news executive Tony Maddox has been named to head CNN International, it was announced today by Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. As executive vice president and managing director of CNN International, Maddox assumes oversight responsibility for a news and information portfolio that includes five CNN services in English; CNN en Español; CNNj; CNN.com International; CNNArabic.com; the joint ventures CNN+, CNN-IBN and CNN Turk, as well as international newsgathering and editorial and programming oversight. Maddox is based in Atlanta at CNN world headquarters and reports to Walton.

“Tony brings to his new role a combination of professional skills and personal qualities that is increasingly rare in our industry,” said Walton. “He is a veteran journalist with broad and direct knowledge of the complexities of the world CNN covers. He is a businessman who understands the unique value of CNN’s brand and capabilities, and how to leverage them. And he is a leader who inspires teamwork, loyalty and individual excellence. Tony will guide a news business of extraordinary importance to extraordinary growth and influence.”

“CNN International is better placed than ever to deliver industry-leading standards of service to audiences around the world,” said Maddox. “The opportunity to lead the great CNNI team is a privilege.”

Formerly senior vice president of news operations for CNN International, Maddox was responsible for operational and administrative oversight of CNN’s 26 international bureaus and integrating international newsgathering activity into the larger CNN Worldwide organization. In addition, he managed the international news desk in Atlanta and supervised recruiting, training and development of newsgathering staff.

Maddox joined CNN in 1998 as managing editor for the organization’s Europe, Middle East and Africa coverage, based in London. While posted there, he directed wide-ranging reporting of world news events; developed CNN-branded shows for the international marketplace including Biz News, International Correspondents, Design 360 and CNN Business Traveller; was instrumental in executing the successful regionalization strategy of CNN’s newsgathering process that has resulted in coverage that is more local and in-depth; and oversaw the build-out of state-of-the-art studio facilities.

Previously, Maddox spent 13 years with the BBC as a reporter, producer, editor and news executive, posted in Belfast, Plymouth and Leeds.