Dana Walden has set up her leadership team for Disney Entertainment for when she takes over the role as President and Chief Creative Officer on Wednesday, and Josh D’Amaro takes over the role of CEO. In a memo to her team, Walden said, “As I step into my new role, I’m pleased to share the new structure of Disney Entertainment, which integrates our games business together with our streaming, film, and television teams, aligning Disney’s world-class creative engines and platforms. Fans today want to engage with Disney’s storytelling and characters in a multitude of ways — whether on Disney+, in theaters, or through the digital games they love to play. With this unified approach, Disney can deliver the world’s most beloved entertainment to fans across the many ways they choose to enjoy it.”
The new leadership structure sees Games and Digital Entertainment moving from Disney Experiences into Disney Entertainment. Sean Shoptaw will continue to lead this segment. About the change, Walden said that it is an “important, strategic shift that aligns our games business more closely with Disney+ and Hulu, enabling us to expand the ways fans can engage with our stories, characters, and worlds.”
Another change in the new structure will see Debra OConnell being named Chairman of Disney Entertainment Television. Walden said, “I’m thrilled that Debra will be taking on this newly created role, overseeing our television brands, including ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content, and the creative strategy for 20th Television and 20th Television Animation. She will also continue to oversee ABC News and the ABC Owned Television Stations.”
The change of the leadership structure under Dana Walden comes after incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro recently named Thomas Mazloum as Chairman of Disney Experiences. This set off a chain of domino effect changes that also saw Jill Estorino taking over the role of Disneyland Resort President. Below are the memos from Dana Walden and Debra OConnell regarding the changes in Disney Entertainment.
Team,
This is a momentous week for the company, as Josh becomes our new CEO, and I want to thank Bob for his remarkable leadership and the strong foundation he leaves for all of us. I’m incredibly excited to work with Josh and an extraordinary group of leaders to build on all our recent success as we begin this new chapter together.
As I step into my new role, I’m pleased to share the new structure of Disney Entertainment, which integrates our games business together with our streaming, film, and television teams, aligning Disney’s world-class creative engines and platforms. Fans today want to engage with Disney’s storytelling and characters in a multitude of ways — whether on Disney+, in theaters, or through the digital games they love to play. With this unified approach, Disney can deliver the world’s most beloved entertainment to fans across the many ways they choose to enjoy it.
My leadership team for Disney Entertainment is as follows:
Alan Bergman, as Chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios, will continue overseeing all aspects of our industry-leading film studios including production, marketing, and distribution. Together with Bob, Alan has played a central role in the success of our film business, which produced three billion-dollar films in the last year alone and has led the global box office for nine out of the past 10 years. Alan’s steady and visionary leadership will continue to guide these efforts going forward.
Alan and I will maintain oversight of Disney+ and Hulu, which will be led by Joe Earley and Adam Smith as Co-Presidents of Direct to Consumer. Joe and Adam will share responsibility for strategy and financial performance across Disney+ and Hulu, enabling a more unified approach to content and partnership strategy, product, and technology. Joe, who also will serve as Head of Content Strategy for DTC, and Adam, who continues as Chief Product and Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, have done an exceptional job helping to shape and grow our streaming business, and they bring a powerful combination of creative, strategic, and technological expertise to this next phase for Disney+ and Hulu. Eric Schrier, who has done terrific work building out our local originals slate, will now report to Joe. This puts our international local originals, which are exclusive to Disney+, inside our DTC organization, enabling a more effective international content strategy. Eric will also oversee the strategy for alternative forms of content and maintain oversight of television Business Affairs, Production, and Labor Relations.
Debra OConnell has been named Chairman of Disney Entertainment Television. I’m thrilled that Debra will be taking on this newly created role, overseeing our television brands, including ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content, and the creative strategy for 20th Television and 20th Television Animation. She will also continue to oversee ABC News and the ABC Owned Television Stations.
John Landgraf, Chairman of FX, will continue reporting directly to me, and maintain oversight of Onyx Collective. Under John’s leadership, FX has become one of the industry’s most prestigious and critically acclaimed brands, delivering shows that consistently shape the cultural conversation — most recently with the breakout success of Love Story.
Sean Shoptaw, EVP, Games and Digital Entertainment, and his organization are moving from Disney Experiences to Disney Entertainment. This is an important, strategic shift that aligns our games business more closely with Disney+ and Hulu, enabling us to expand the ways fans can engage with our stories, characters, and worlds. I’ve been very impressed with Sean. He has strong command of the tremendous opportunities ahead, including our collaboration with Epic Games, developing a Disney universe connected to Fortnite — and I’m looking forward to this exciting new partnership.
Asad Ayaz, Disney’s Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, will be instrumental in all this work. Asad leads the unparalleled marketing teams across the company’s business segments. He and his teams have a stellar track record of creating bold, inventive campaigns — most recently with the launch of Hoppers and looking ahead to The Devil Wears Prada 2 — that continue to set the bar for marketing across the globe. Asad will report to Josh and me.
Through all of this, our focus is on empowering great creators to tell the next generation of Disney stories and bringing our powerful IP to fans wherever they are — whether through streaming, film, television, games, or immersive experiences. This new structure is designed to strengthen collaboration, foster an even more seamless environment for our creative partners, and build on our rich legacy as the best storytelling company in the world.
I’m extremely confident in this team and in the remarkable talent across this organization. As I’ve said before, this is truly a dream job for me and I’m grateful to be doing this work with all of you. Your creativity, commitment, and passion are what make this company so special. Thank you for all you do.
Dana
Team,
Before anything else, I want to thank Dana Walden for her extraordinary leadership and for the confidence she has placed in me to serve as chairman of Disney Entertainment Television. Dana has been an incredible champion of creative excellence across our organization, and her vision and thoughtful leadership have catapulted the momentum we are building on today. I’m deeply grateful to Dana and Josh D’Amaro for their support as we move forward together.
One of the greatest privileges of working for The Walt Disney Company is the ability to serve alongside exceptionally talented people across every team and facet of our work. The creativity, innovation and collaboration I’ve witnessed throughout my nearly three decades with the company continue to inspire me every day. As we begin this new journey together, I am both energized and humbled by the individuals throughout our organization who will shape our future and carry forward the spirit of storytelling that defines our company.
With that in mind, I’m pleased to share my new senior leadership team with all of you.
Craig Erwich will now oversee 20th Television and 20th Television Animation, with Karey Burke and Marci Proietto reporting to him. Craig will continue to lead ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals.
Ayo Davis and the Disney Branded Television team will now report into me.
Courteney Monroe and the National Geographic Content organization will also report to me directly.
Almin Karamehmedovic and Chad Matthews will continue to report to me as the heads of ABC News and ABC Owned Television Stations, respectively.
Rita Ferro and Jimmy Zasowski will now report to me for television, and to Alan Bergman and Jimmy Pitaro for each of their respective businesses.
Sean Cocchia will now dual report to me and Eric Schrier on Content Strategy.
Let me be the first to say this is an all-star team. And, in the weeks ahead, we will be refining aspects of this new organizational structure and processes. As those decisions take shape, we will share more details. Thank you for your patience during this period of transition and for the professionalism and focus you bring to your work every day.
Across our studios, networks and platforms, we give life to stories that connect with audiences around the world in meaningful ways. More than ever, we’ll be working closely with our Direct-to-Consumer partners – Joe Earley and Adam Smith – and their teams as we embrace a unified content strategy and continue to deliver the culture-defining, award-winning titles that inspire generations.
Finally, for those of you who are joining my organization for the first time, I’d like to leave you with a mantra that has served me well throughout my career – Work hard, play smart and throw kindness like confetti. I hope you’ll keep those words in mind as we move forward together.
Thank you for all you do.
Debra
