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Dr. Leon Hawthorne is a media executive, who works at the intersection of content, commerce, and technology. A former World News Anchor for CNN International and CEO of two UK satellite TV channels – The Baby Channel & Simply TV – Leon has created a slew of single genre digital channels, such as Health Zone, Book Zone, and Theatreland TV. He also advised the CEOs of Hearst Magazines, the Independent, the London Evening Standard, and Boots.com on their digital strategies. Leon holds a PhD from City, University of London. His 2024 doctoral thesis, titled ‘Talking Heads’, was on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence to create audiovisual, human-like, chatbots (‘virtual humans’) as an interface for communicating with consumers.

A ‘virtual human’ version of Leon, used in his PhD research experiment.

Leon contributes to Press Gazette and is a judge for the British Journalism Awards.

During COVID lockdown, Leon co-wrote a children’s fantasy book with his then 7-year old son.

Leon was CEO of the Baby Channel, which launched on satellite, cable, web, magazine and retail.

Leon was CEO of Theatreland TV, a web and cable channel covering London’s West End.

Author Dan Brown, appearing on Book Zone TV, of which Leon was CEO.

Leon advised CEOs of major media and retail brands on their digital content strategies.

Leon was a lobby correspondent for BBC News, attending daily briefings at 10 Downing Street.

Leon’s vlog features commentary on current events.

Anchoring World News for CNN International, Atlanta.

Anchoring political discussion show, ‘Despatch Box’ for BBC 2.

Anchoring World News for CNBC Europe, London.