As it expands upon its unrivaled reporting and multimedia storytelling, CNN.com has hired Brian Ellis Martin as its new executive creative director.

Martin comes to CNN.com as an experienced executive in interactive multimedia features, brand strategy and online marketing. He will provide strategic visual, technical and conceptual guidance to CNN’s digital properties as he leads the design and user-experience team. Based in Atlanta, Martin will oversee the site’s design and functionality and will bring his skills and expertise in programming, technology, sales and marketing to help enhance the site’s look and feel.

“Brian’s strong background in visual communications and brand development will help us continue to evolve our presence across the online and mobile news and information spectrum,” said Mitch Gelman, senior vice president and senior executive producer for CNN.com. “His talent, vision and experience will help to further develop the quality, style and reputation that users attribute to CNN.com.”

Martin served as principal and executive creative director for the4 [creative network] in New York City, where he created branded visual communications experiences in interactive, print and marketing communications. Clients included The New York Times, AOL, Spiegel, Nike and NPR. Before that, he was executive creative director for Think New Ideas Inc., an integrated strategic marketing and technology solutions provider, where he partnered with clients such as IBM, Gillette, Proctor & Gamble and Time Inc.

Previously, Martin worked at Microsoft as an art director and senior designer with a focus on interactive music and multimedia technologies and also held various designer positions at Marquand Books in Seattle and The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash.

Martin graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s of fine arts degree with a minor in graphic design.

CNN.com is the world's No. 1 destination for online and wireless news, garnering the greatest audience share among current events and global news sites. Launched in 1995, CNN.com draws from the resources of CNN Worldwide and its many partners to provide consumers with the most enriching, immediate interaction with news anywhere, seamlessly combining articles, videos, images, interactive features and user-generated content. CNN.com’s news video offering – both live and on-demand – is unparalleled on the Web. CNN.com’s recent awards include an Edward R. Murrow award, a National Headliner award and three EPpy awards.