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Gary Knell

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Gary E. Knell was the President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, with the organization from 1989 to 2011.

Knell was replaced by H. Melvin Ming on October 10, 2011, Knell joined NPR after a year where various top executives and funding challenges plagued the organization. On his departure, Sesame Workshop created a Gary Knell Muppet.

Official bioEdit

from sesameworkshop.org

Gary Knell is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sesame Workshop. Mr. Knell leads the non-profit educational organization in its mission to create innovative, engaging content that maximizes the educational power of all media to help children reach their highest potential. He has been instrumental in focusing the organization on Sesame Street's global mission, including groundbreaking co-productions in South Africa, Russia, China and Egypt.

Previously, Mr. Knell was Managing Director of Manager Media International, a print and multimedia publishing company based in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. In this capacity, he oversaw the development of the monthly business magazine Asia Inc., the daily Asian-based newspaper Asia Times, and several trade publications.

He also has served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at WNET/Channel 13 in New York, was Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary and Governmental Affairs Committees, and worked in the California State Legislature and Governor's Office.

Mr. Knell is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, serves on the Board of Governors of the National Geographic Education Foundation and is a Board Member of AARP Services, Inc., providing high quality products and services serving the needs and interests of those 50 and older; NetAid, a UN founded organization using technology to fight global poverty; Business for Diplomatic Action, promoting public diplomacy through the private sector; and American Public Television. He is also an advisor to WFUV, public radio at Fordham University, the Annenberg School of Communications at USC, and Common Sense Media. He is a frequent spokesperson in the media, appearing in numerous venues, including CNN, Fox News, NBC Today Show, NPR, and CNBC.

Mr. Knell holds a BA in Political Science and Journalism from the University of California at Los Angeles and a JD from Loyola University School of Law.

Mr. Knell is married and is the father of four children.