Disney’s Leadership Restructuring Ahead of New CEO

As a new CEO prepares to step in, Dana Walden is working on bringing together Disney’s various media sectors—movies, TV, streaming, and gaming—under a single umbrella.

Walden, who will soon take on the role of president and chief creative officer at the Walt Disney Company, unveiled a new leadership framework aimed at consolidating Disney’s extensive content activities into one powerful division.

This reorganization promotes Debra O’Connell to the newly established position of chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, giving her significant control over the company’s TV divisions.

O’Connell will also continue managing ABC News and the company’s owned television stations while overseeing ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals, National Geographic, and 20th Television content.

This consolidation places Disney’s television and news operations under one leader, significantly increasing O’Connell’s influence within the company.

The changes come just as Josh D’Amaro is about to take over as CEO, succeeding Bob Iger, and solidifying Walden’s position as a key figure in defining Disney’s next chapter.

In her new role—the first of its kind—Walden will report directly to D’Amaro and be in charge of Disney’s entire creative output.

“Disney’s strength has always been the emotional connection between our stories and the people who love them,” she remarked in a recent email.

Walden added that, with audiences engaging with Disney across various formats and platforms, it’s essential to unify their creative operations to enhance viewer experience.

Under this restructuring, all streaming services, movie studios, TV networks, and expanding gaming sectors will come under Walden’s supervision.

This is a significant strategic shift, with Disney believing that closer integration will provide a competitive advantage as viewers navigate between platforms.

A notable change includes moving the gaming division from its previous focus on park experiences to the central entertainment division, aligning it with Disney+ and Hulu.

Additionally, the company pointed to its collaboration with Epic Games, which includes aspirations for a Disney-themed universe within Fortnite, as part of this initiative.

Sean Shoptaw, who leads games and digital entertainment, will now report directly to Walden.

Walden’s leadership team will feature familiar faces, including Alan Bergman, who will remain as chairman of Disney Entertainment studios, supervising film production, marketing, and distribution.

Bergman will also oversee Disney’s direct-to-consumer offerings, including Disney+ and Hulu, alongside Walden.

Day-to-day operations of these streaming platforms will be managed by Joe Earley and Adam Smith, named co-presidents of direct-to-consumer.

Earley will focus on content strategy, while Smith continues as the chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.

This leadership setup reinforces the importance of streaming in Disney’s growth plans.

Furthermore, Eric Schrier, leading Disney Television Studios, will report to Earley, further tying foreign originals into the streaming service.

Key figures like FX Chairman John Landgraf will still report to Walden, while Chief Marketing and Brand Officer Asad Ayaz will report to both Walden and D’Amaro.

In an internal communication, Walden referred to this restructuring as a significant moment in Disney’s leadership transition, noting, “This is an important week for the company as Josh becomes our new CEO.”

She emphasized that today’s audiences want to connect with Disney’s stories and characters through various platforms—whether that’s on Disney+, in cinemas, or in digital games.

This overhaul arrives as Disney strives to build on its recent box office achievements, which include a staggering $3 billion in movie revenue over the past year, while maintaining its lead in the global box office for nine out of the last ten years and exploring growth in streaming and gaming.