Dana Walden takes over Disney’s TV, film, streaming & gaming—shake‑up

Dana Walden, the newly appointed President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, released a memo on Monday outlining a sweeping overhaul of Disney’s entertainment hierarchy.

The changes come just days after Josh D’Amaro was named CEO, positioning Walden at the helm of television, film, direct‑to‑consumer services, and now games and digital entertainment. The memo details who reports to her and how the various brands will be re‑aligned under a single umbrella.

Walden’s reshuffle adds the games division—previously under Disney Experiences—to her purview, with EVP Sean Shoptaw moving to report directly to her. Alan Bergman, long‑time chairman of Disney Entertainment and Studios, will remain in that role and jointly oversee Disney+ and Hulu alongside Walden.

Walden also names a cadre of direct reports: Debra OConnell as chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, John Landgraf as chairman of FX, Joe Earley and Adam Smith as co‑presidents of Direct‑to‑Consumer, and Eric Schrier now reporting to Earley.

In her own words, Walden said the company’s core strength lies in “the emotional connection between our stories and the people who love them.” She added that integrating games, streaming, film, and television will “build an even more connected experience for audiences” as they engage across platforms.

The memo also lists Asad Ayaz as Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, reporting to both Walden and D’Amaro.

## Background & Context

Walden has been a central figure at Disney for years, serving as President of Disney Television and the chief creative officer before her elevation to president. The announcement follows Josh D’Amaro’s appointment as CEO on Wednesday, marking a new era of executive leadership.

Earlier this week, industry observers speculated whether Walden might streamline her television unit by elevating one of her senior executives; the memo confirms that Debra OConnell will take on a newly created chairman role for Disney Entertainment Television.

The restructuring reflects a broader trend of aligning creative and platform businesses. Games and digital entertainment, previously managed under Disney Experiences, now join the entertainment umbrella to enhance cross‑platform storytelling.

Meanwhile, FX’s chairman John Landgraf will retain oversight of the network and its Onyx Collective imprint but will no longer oversee National Geographic, a brand that joined his portfolio in 2023.

Walden’s memo also addresses past questions about Alan Bergman’s position under the new structure. The document notes that Bergman will stay as chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios, and will share oversight of Direct‑to‑Consumer with Walden, indicating a collaborative relationship between the two executives.

## What People Are Saying

Walden’s email to employees frames the overhaul as a “momentous week” for Disney, emphasizing gratitude toward former CEO Bob Iger and excitement about working with new CEO Josh D’Amaro.

She praised her leadership team’s talent, describing them as “passionate” and “driven by the joy of storytelling.” The memo also reiterates Walden’s commitment to “bringing the full power of our creative businesses together to deliver beloved entertainment across every format.”

In addition to Walden’s remarks, the memo mentions that Alan Bergman and Sean Shoptaw will serve as direct reports, with Shoptaw moving from Disney Experiences to Disney Entertainment.

The document also indicates that Eric Schrier will now report to Joe Earley, shifting the focus of international local originals under the Direct‑to‑Consumer umbrella. These adjustments suggest a tighter integration of content strategy across platforms.

While the memo does not cite external commentary, industry observers have noted that Walden’s expansion of the entertainment team reflects a strategic push to unify storytelling across film, television, streaming, and gaming—a move that could reshape Disney’s competitive positioning.

## What Happens Next

The new structure places Sean Shoptaw at the head of games and digital entertainment, positioning him to collaborate closely with Disney+ and Hulu. Under Walden’s leadership, the games division will pursue partnerships such as the Disney universe in Fortnite, signaling a push toward cross‑media IP experiences.

OConnell’s promotion to chairman of Disney Entertainment Television consolidates oversight of ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content, and the creative strategy for 20th Television and its animation arm.

Her expanded remit also includes continuing leadership of ABC News and ABC Owned Television Stations.

Joe Earley and Adam Smith will jointly steer Direct‑to‑Consumer as co‑presidents, with Earley responsible for content strategy and Smith as chief product and technology officer for both Disney Entertainment and ESPN. This equal footing underscores the strategic importance of technology in streaming operations.

Eric Schrier’s shift to reporting under Earley places international local originals within the Direct‑to‑Consumer organization, aligning global content strategy with streaming platforms.

Asad Ayaz will remain Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, coordinating marketing efforts across the company while reporting to both Walden and the new CEO.

In closing,

Walden’s memo frames the changes as a unified effort to “empower great creators to tell the next generation of Disney stories” and to deliver Disney’s IP “wherever fans are—whether through streaming, film, television, games, or immersive experiences.” The new hierarchy is designed to strengthen collaboration and streamline creative workflows across the company’s vast entertainment ecosystem.

With the leadership shuffle in place, Disney is poised to continue delivering integrated storytelling experiences while navigating a media landscape.