Disney's Dana Walden sets leadership team; Bergman remains film studios chief
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Walt Disney Co.’s incoming president and chief creative officer, Dana Walden, has unveiled her leadership team, which includes several familiar faces from the company’s film, television and marketing units.Walden will become Disney’s first woman president on Wednesday.She will report to Josh D’Amaro, who will succeed Bob Iger as Disney’s chief executive, following the company’s annual meeting with shareholders and its high-profile leadership handoff.Walden’s senior team includes her longtime creative partner, Alan Bergman.
As chairman of Disney Entertainment and Studios, Bergman will continue to oversee Disney’s film studios, including production, marketing and distribution.Bergman also will retain oversight of Disney’s streaming programming in concert with Walden.Disney executives Joe Earley and Adam Smith were named co-presidents of Disney’s entertainment direct to consumer offerings — Disney+ and Hulu.
Both executives will be responsible for strategy and financial performance and report to Walden and Bergman.Earley and Walden worked together when they were Fox executives; Earley will also serve as head of content strategy.
Smith continues in his role as Disney Entertainment chief product and technology officer.He also will continue to collaborate with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro on matters related to ESPN and ESPN+.
Hollywood Inc.Iger acknowledged facing obstacles in his second stint as CEO, saying this week the company had “a tremendous amount that needed fixing.”Debra OConnell will step into a newly-formed role as chairman of Disney Entertainment Television.
She will have a broad TV portfolio that includes ABC Entertainment, Disney-branded cable channels, Hulu Originals as well as programming from National Geographic, 20th Television and 20th Television Animation.OConnell will continue to oversee ABC News and the ABC-owned television stations, i...