Disney-Fox Merger: Who's in and who's out at the new entertainment behemoth
The entertainment industry as a whole has been shaken to its roots by the Disney-Fox merger. The acquisition brought Fox and its assets under the leadership of Walt Disney for a staggering $71 billion. A lot of moves, resignations, and pink slips have been handed out since then, making it hard to keep track of the who's who in the entertainment industry. Here's all you need to know.
1. Andrew Cripps
Former International Theatrical Distribution president for Fox, he was let go after the Disney Fox merger.
He was a platinum executive who has been in the industry for more than 30 years. He served as president of Imax International, president of Paramount Pictures International from 2007-2011, and president and COO of United International Pictures.
His next role is unknown at the time.
2. Chris Aronson
Former Fox Domestic Distribution boss, he was one of the first few execs to be handed the pink slip after the merger.
Aronson joined Fox in 2005 as SVP, General Sales Manager East. He was previously at MGM Distribution Co. where he served as EVP, General Sales Manager, responsible for all of the company theatrical content distribution activities in the U.S. and Canada. He became EVP, General Sales Manager in 2012. A month after that announcement, Aronson was promoted again and succeeded then distribution chief Bruce Snyder at Fox.
His next role is unknown at the time.
3. Spencer Klein
Former Fox EVP, Assistant General Sales Manager, let go along with Chris Aronson.
Klein has previously worked with The Film Group, Bow Tie Cinemas, The Weinstein Company, Loews Cineplex Entertainment, New Line Cinemas, and New Yorker Films. He came to Fox around 2012 and looked after Fox's theatrical distributions in the US and Canada and was made Assistant General Sales Manager in 2016.
His next role is unknown at the time.
4. Jean-Francois Camilleri
Former Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company.
Jean-François was appointed Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company France in September 2009 and in November 2012, he became dual Country Manager for both TWDC France and TWDC Benelux.
His next role is unknown at the time.
5. Heather Phillips
Former EVP and head of Domestic Publicity at Fox.
She came onboard the network's Publicity team in 2013. She began her career at Miramax Films, where she was VP of national theatrical publicity.
Her next role is unknown at the time.
6. Mike Dunn
Former president of product strategy and consumer business development at Fox.
Dunn joined Fox in 2016. He was chair of the Digital Entertainment Group’s (DEG) Board of Directors and served on the Consumer Technology Association’s Board of Industry Leaders.
His next role is unknown at the time.
7. Pam Levine
Former president of worldwide theatrical marketing for Fox, Levine joined Fox in the role in 2016.
Her next role is unknown at the time.
8. Kevin Campbell
Co-president of worldwide theatrical marketing at Fox.
He had previously held executive marketing roles at Fox from 2005 to 2008 before rejoining the network in 2017. He worked as head of marketing for Amblin Partners during the gap. He has also served as VP of marketing at Walt Disney Studios and brand lead for DreamWorks Studios for projects that were released through Touchstone Pictures.
His next role is unknown at the time.
9. Tony Sella
Former Chief content officer at Fox.
This is Sella second exit from Fox. He left Fox back in 2013 for the first time, after serving as their in house marketing genius for 23 years. Then in 2015, he and Fox Networks Group formed a joint venture AKS Content to develop original content and work on promotions together. He then came onboard as CCO in 2018. He was pivotal in the success of 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' and 'The Planet of the Apes' because of his smashing advertising campaigns.
His next role is unknown at the time.
10. Julie Rieger
Former chief data strategist and head of media at Fox.
Rieger joined Fox in 2008. Before that she led West Coast operations at Zenith, overseeing a number of accounts including 20th Century Fox.
His next role is unknown at the time.
11. Danny Kaye
The former head of the Fox Innovation Lab.
Kaye previously served as VP Research and Strategic Planning at Universal Studios Consumer Products and Applause Inc. He joined Fox in 1999 and has served as EVP, Managing Director, Fox Innovation Lab, Global Research and Tech Strategy for almost two decades.
His next lead role is unknown at the time.
12. Ravi Ahuja
Former CFO for Fox Networks Group.
He joined Fox in 2017 where he served as executive vice president of Business Operations and Development. He contributed to investments and acquisitions in National Geographic Partners, YES Network and Sports Time Ohio RSN transactions. He also worked to develop Fox Networks’ new channel strategy.
He is now the CFO of Disney Television.
13. Robert Langer
Former CFO of Disney/ABC Television.
Langer was made CFO of Disney/ABC Television in 2017. He joined the company back in 1999 and served as director of business development and global licensing. Langer has previously led all Disney operations and businesses within Germany, Switzerland, Austria as the Walt Disney Company’s country manager for the region.
His is now Executive VP of Finance and planning at Disney.
14. Craig Hunegs
Former Warner Bros TV group's head of business and president of the digital networks wing.
He exited the Warner Bros in December 2018, six months after AT&T completed its acquisition of Warner Bros.’ parent company Time Warner, now known as WarnerMedia. He was responsible for overall Television Group performance and for creating growth across Warner Bros.’ television business. Hunegs was also the lead deal-maker for all Television Group production divisions. He served on the board of The CW network, where he played an active role in setting its linear and digital distribution strategies.
He is now the President at Disney Television Studios (DTV Studios).
15. Dana Walden
Former chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group.
Walden came to Fox in 1992 as a part of the public relations team for 20th Century Fox Television. Then in 1999, Walden and Gary Newman were made co-chairs and CEOs of the Fox studio. In 2014, the pair were promoted to chairperson-CEOs of Fox Television Group.
She is now the Chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment.
16. Peter Rice
Former President of 21st Century Fox and chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group.
Prior to his roles in Fox's television business, Rice was President for Fox Searchlight Pictures, a tenure that he began in 2000. Rice was appointed President of 21st Century Fox in 2017, where he oversaw the workings of Fox Broadcasting Company, 20th Century Fox Television, FX Networks, Fox Sports and National Geographic Partners.
He is now serving as chairman of Walt Disney Television and co-chair of Disney Media Networks.
17. Shannon Ryan
Former chief marketing officer at 21st Century Fox.
Prior to her promotion to chief marketing officer, Ryan was EVP Marketing & Communications for FTG. From 2011-15, she was EVP Marketing & Communications for Fox.
She is now the new President of Marketing ABC Entertainment & Disney TV Studios.
18. Michael Cerda
Cerda was the chief product officer of Goldman Sachs’ Marcus online consumer bank division.
Cerda worked at Sachs for two years. He joined in January 2017 and was heading the product design for Marcus. At Live Nation, he was the chief experience officer for about a year. Before this stint, he worked at Facebook as their media products head and was crucial in the launch of products for the company like the Facebook Live video. He served as SVP at Vevo.
He is the new VP of product for Disney+
19. Carol Sewell
Former EVP of Marketing at Fox. She came onboard Paramount in the early 90s and joined Fox in 1995. She has worked in campaigns for blockbusters like 'Star Wars', Fox and Marvel titles and 'Moulin Rouge' among others. Her next role is unknown at this time.
20. Mary Goss Robino
Former EVP of Global Marketing Partnerships at Fox. She joined Fox in July 2018 and has held senior positions in studios like Sony Pictures, MGM and New Line
21. Chelsey Summey
Former SVP of Corporate Communications. She had been with Fox for seven years as a part of their publicity team