John Simons has been hired as senior director, business and media for CNN, managing reporters and editors who cover business, technology, and media for the network, and reporting to Marie Beaudette, who is vice president, business and media for CNN.
He was most recently a partner at the Brunswick Group, a global advisory firm focused on strategic communications issues.
Simons joined Brunswick from Time where he was executive editor, responsible for national and business news, as well as the publication’s technology coverage. He also co-hosted Time100 live events, including panels and interviews with top business leaders.
Prior to this, Simons spent several years at the Wall Street Journal as deputy health and science editor and bureau ehief for the health business, where he helped guide coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic. Before that, he was the outlet’s energy editor for Europe, Middle East and Africa and deputy bureau chief for management and careers.
Previously, Simons held senior editorial roles with the International Business Times, The Associated Press and Black Enterprise. Earlier in his career, he covered the drug and biotech industries, immigration, technology and economic policy as a senior editor at the U.S. News & World Report and staff writer at Fortune, and a reporter at the Wall Street Journal.
He is a graduate of Northeastern University. He won the National Association of Black Journalists “Salute to Excellence” Award in 2008.
