In a sport of govt musical chairs, Dana Walden made her first massive strikes as head of the corporate’s TV networks since CEO Bob Iger’s return.
Earlier this month, Walden was upped to co-head of the leisure group alongside Alan Bergman, and she or he’s wasted no time executing her management imaginative and prescient.
Firstly, the Mayor of TV is getting extra actual property. John Landgraf, chairman, FX content material and FX productions, is including Nationwide Geographic and Onyx Collective to his purview.
In the meantime, Simran Sethi is taking over an even bigger function as evp of programming and content material technique for ABC Leisure and Freeform programming, now mixed underneath one govt.
It’s a homecoming of types for Sethi, who helped launch Freeform. Tara Duncan, who beforehand headed up the community, will shift her focus solely to Onyx, which Walden famous in an inner memo is a significant precedence for Disney.
Courteney Monroe, president of content material for Nat Geo, will stay within the function and now report back to Landgraf, as will Duncan. Monroe will now oversee Nat Geo’s digital footprint and journal alongside its unique content material technique.
Craig Erwich has been upped to president of Disney Tv Group, including duty for the event and programming of Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Tv, will proceed to report back to Erwich.
Whereas Walden’s management crew stays intact, the brand new construction follows Iger’s fast dismantling of the Disney Media & Leisure Distribution group and the exit of Kareem Daniels.
See Walden’s full memo beneath:
Pricey Colleagues,
Because the announcement of Disney Leisure, I’ve hung out desirous about how you can set up my crew in a method that can allow me to concentrate on my newly expanded function, in partnership with Alan. I’ll proceed to depend on the identical unimaginable leaders who’ve delivered hit after hit onto our platforms and into our wealthy library, however have made some modifications to our construction, that are outlined beneath:
- Onyx Collective stays an enormous precedence, and as its spectacular roster of creators and sequence continues to develop, Tara Duncan will now focus solely on Onyx.
- Nationwide Geographic Content material just lately earned its third Oscar nomination and has attracted a few of the greatest stars to its spectacular slate of sequence and doc movies. Courteney Monroe will now oversee all elements of the model, together with its digital footprint and iconic journal, together with its unique content material technique.
- Tara and Courteney will now report on to John Landgraf, combining the energy of three prestigious manufacturers.
- As Tara’s focus shifts to Onyx, Freeform programming and improvement will probably be mixed with ABC Leisure, and Simran Sethi will oversee each. This represents Simran’s return to a model she helped launch. She’s going to proceed to report back to Craig Erwich.
- Over the previous six months, Ayo Davis and Craig have labored collectively very efficiently on Disney Branded Tv streaming originals. Ayo will proceed to report back to Craig for streaming, and now that construction will increase to additionally embody the event and programming of Disney Channel and Disney Junior.
- Debra OConnell, who just lately joined my management crew, will proceed to supervise networks and ABC Owned Tv Stations, and can add analysis, labor relations and TV enterprise operations to her purview.
- Disney Tv Studios will stay underneath Eric Schrier, who will increase his obligations to incorporate our international unique tv technique, working carefully with our proficient regional leaders.
Nice tales are the lifeblood of our firm, and I’ll stay deeply related to the artistic aspect of our enterprise. As we start our new chapter collectively, I’ve the utmost confidence on this crew of confirmed and formidable leaders. I’m very grateful to Bob for reuniting and realigning our firm in such a significant method.
I need you all to understand how a lot I admire your ardour and your pursuit of excellence, which will probably be key to our success within the months and years forward.
Warmest regards,
Dana
