Disney unveils new direct-to-consumer international team

The Walt Disney Company has reorganized its international team ahead of the 21st Century Fox acquisition closing.
December 14, 2018

As part of its post-acquisition integration of 21st Century Fox, Disney’s direct-to-consumer & international (DTCI) group is undergoing a strategic realignment to consolidate international business units. Everything outside of the US will now be headed up by Rebecca Campbell (pictured, middle) in EMEA, Diego Lerner (pictured, top) in LatAm, and Uday Shankar (pictured, bottom) in APAC.

Once the acquisition is complete, Campbell, who currently serves as president of The Walt Disney Company EMEA, will maintain oversight of this region but also add Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to her remit. Joining the EMEA team and reporting to Campbell is Jan Koeppen, the current president of Fox Networks Group Europe and Africa, who will now be president of television and direct-to-consumer for The Walt Disney Company EMEA. And Marina Jigalova-Ozkan will continue in her current role as DTCI’s managing director in Russia and CIS.

Lerner is president of The Walt Disney Company Latin America and will just continue to oversee this region. Coming on board his team is Carlos Martinez, the current president of Fox Networks Group Latin America, who is changing titles to EVP and GM of media networks in North and Brazil for LatAm.

Meanwhile, Shankar, who is president of 21st Century Fox, Asia and chairman and CEO of Star India, will become the new chairman of Star and Disney India and president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific. Reporting to him are: Luke Kang, EVP and MD of Greater China, Japan and Korea; Kylie Watson-Wheeler, MD of Australia and New Zealand; and Chafic Najia, SVP and MD of Middle East.

The new structure will allow the company’s portfolio of assets to be handled by a few individuals.

Additionally, Janice Marinelli, who was president of Disney and ABC Domestic Television, will transition into a new role as president of global content sales and distribution responsible for DTCI’s integrated global content sales org. She will head up programming sales for Disney’s large portfolio, as well as distribution of branded direct-to-consumer apps and services to broadcasters, digital services and third-party distributors.

The restructure and consolidation comes on the heels of Disney forming its direct-to-consumer unit Stateside, with vet Kevin Mayer leading the newly created DTCI unit and Bob Chapek overseeing a combined consumer products and parks unit.

This was followed by the announcement earlier this year that its film marketing president Ricky Strauss would now be serving as the president of content and marketing for the upcoming Disney+ platform. And Fox president and Fox Networks Group CEO Peter Rice became chairman of Walt Disney Television and co-chair of Disney Media Networks.

About The Author
Alexandra Whyte is Kidscreen's News & Social Media Editor. Contact her at awhyte@brunico.com

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