The incoming president and chief creative officer of the Burbank-based Walt Disney Co. announced a leadership overhaul of the company’s entertainment division Monday in a move aimed at better coordinating its streaming, film and television businesses.
Dana Walden will officially take over her new position as president/CCO on Wednesday — the same day Bob Iger steps aside as CEO in favor of Josh D’Amaro.
“The strength of Disney has always been the emotional connection between our stories and the people who love them,” Walden said in a statement announcing the Disney Entertainment management team. “As fans engage with Disney across more formats and platforms than ever before, we are bringing together the full power of our creative businesses to build an even more connected experience for audiences. I’m very fortunate to work alongside such a passionate and talented group of leaders who are driven by the joy of storytelling, and I’m especially excited to work with our new CEO Josh D’Amaro as we enter this next chapter together.”
Debra OConnell, currently the president of ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, will be elevated to the new position of Disney Entertainment Television chair. She will oversee brands such as ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals and National Geographic Content. She will also continue to oversee ABC News.
Alan Bergman will remain chairman of Disney Entertainment Studios, overseeing Disney’s film studios and sharing oversight of Direct-to-Consumer operations with Walden. Joe Earley and Adam Smith will be co-presidents of the Direct-to-Consumer business, reporting to Walden and Bergman.
Disney’s Games and Digital Entertainment business, led by Executive Vice President Sean Shoptaw, will become part of Disney Entertainment, reporting to Walden.
“Shoptaw oversees the company’s Games business and its collaboration with Epic Games, developing a Disney universe connected to Fortnite, and brings deep insight into the central role that games play in today’s entertainment landscape,” according to a Disney statement. “By combining the power of its creative engines and games, Disney can bring immersive new ways to tell stories to audiences across platforms in even more engaging ways.”
John Landgraf will remain chairman of FX, reporting to Walden.