departed her post as head of global sales and distribution, Disney announced that Justin Connolly will lead the newly combined sales and marketing team that now includes ESPN and other arms of the company.
Disney will now combine all of the company's media sales and channel distribution into one organization, overseen by Connolly who has been promoted from ESPN exec vp to the newly created role of president of media distribution. Connolly will report to Kevin Mayer, chairman of Disney's direct to consumer and international segment.
"By combining all of our media, affiliate, content and syndication sales, and distribution efforts into the Direct-to-Consumer & International segment, we continue to transform the ways in which we distribute the great stories and characters created by The Walt Disney Company’s studios and media networks,” said Mayer.
In his new role, Connolly will continue to oversee all aspects of North American distribution, affiliate marketing and affiliate-related business operations Disney and ESPN media networks, including: Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FX, FXX, National Geographic and owned-and-operated ABC stations. He will continue to have oversight of the ABC Affiliate Relations and Marketing team.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to lead the industry’s best multi-platform sales and distribution teams,” said Connolly. “Through our combined efforts we will achieve the company’s vision for an even stronger, more agile organization that is better able to pivot and capitalize on the many opportunities present in today’s fast-changing and increasingly complex global marketplace.”
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