F.Y.I.

Disney makes two senior hires

Entertainment company Walt Disney has appointed Sonia Bijelic to head up studio marketing, and Kylie Watson-Wheeler to the role of general manager of licensing.  

The announcement:

(MELBOURNE: 19 MAY 2010): The Walt Disney Company in Australia today announced two leadership appointments as part of a continuing effort to enhance the consumer experience and deliver more quality, fun and innovative content to Australian consumers and families.

The appointment of Sonia Bijelic to the newly created position of Head of Studio Marketing sees an integration of all of Disney’s Studios marketing divisions encompassing theatrical, home entertainment and pay-per-view. In this role, Sonia will be responsible for all marketing activities in the new integrated structure – driving titles through the theatrical, home entertainment and pay per view windows and creating campaigns to suit the fast-pace and dynamic Studios business in Australia.

Sonia brings an enormous wealth of experience to the role having operated in key marketing leadership roles at Telstra, GE and most recently at the ANZ Bank. She has previously worked with The Walt Disney Company under the Buena Vista Home Entertainment group from 1994-1998.

Kylie Watson-Wheeler has been appointed to General Manager of Licensing, effective immediately, overseeing the Disney Consumer Products, Disney Publishing and Disney Interactive Studios businesses- now organized under the one new management umbrella.

Kylie’s successful leadership of the Disney Publishing business in Australia/New Zealand and across the broader Asia Pacific region stands her in high regard to lead the newly combined licensing business. For the last two years Don Wood has lead Disney Consumer Products driving positive results and will return to the U.S. in November.

“The Disney brand has had a long and positive history in Australia and New Zealand and the appointment of both Sonia and Kylie to lead these key divisions reiterates Disney’s commitment to the market,” said Mr. John Cracknell, managing director, The Walt Disney Company, Australia and New Zealand. “The integrated structure introduced earlier this year is driving continued growth across all our businesses and will provide opportunities to further deepen our relationships with consumers and our partners here. The new appointments will continue to build on our place in the market as we enter this exciting new chapter of Disney in Australia and New Zealand.”

Both roles will report directly to John Cracknell and are based in Melbourne and are effective immediately.

Source:  Walt Disney press release

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