David Payne

David Payne is senior vice president of CNN News Services and general manager of CNN.com. As general manager of CNN.com, Payne oversees all of CNN.com's operations, including business, administration, finance, marketing, product development and editorial operations. In addition, Payne also leads CNN's Content Sales/Business Development team, which is responsible for driving incremental revenue to the CNN News Group generally, and licensing revenue to CNN.com, CNNMoney.com, CNN Radio and Turner Learning, specifically.

Previously, Payne was senior vice president of business operations and development for the CNN News Group, where he oversaw the business endeavors of CNN's domestic networks and Web sites and was responsible for negotiations with CNN's primary vendors and partners.

Payne has been with Turner Broadcasting System Inc. since 1993, serving in a variety of positions, including senior vice president and general manager of CNN/Sports Illustrated Interactive (where he was named to Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal's annual "Forty Under 40" list as one of the 40 most influential sports executives less than 40 years old), vice president of business affairs for Turner Sports, and vice president and team counsel for the Atlanta Braves, Hawks and Thrashers. In these latter capacities, Payne was instrumental in negotiations of Turner Sports television and broadcast talent agreements, and the negotiation of team television, radio and sponsorship agreements. He also was actively involved in the development of Philips Arena and the related acquisition and start-up of the Atlanta Thrashers franchise.

Payne earned a bachelor of arts degree in public policy studies from Duke University, where he graduated cum laude. He also earned a law degree, with honors, from Duke University.