Shannon Ryan has been promoted to president of marketing for Disney General Entertainment while Craig Erwich moves up to president, ABC Entertainment, Hulu and Disney Branded Television and FX’s Eric Schrier is named president, Disney Television Studios and Business Operations at Disney General Entertainment, said Dana Walden, chairman, Disney General Entertainment on Thursday. All three report to Walden.

“I am incredibly fortunate to be working with some of the very best executives in our industry, and Craig, Shannon and Eric are exactly that – the best. These are proven leaders with both incredible creative sensibilities and strong business acumen,” said Walden, who was promoted to her current position three months ago, in a statement. “Additionally, they have long and impressive track records of supporting their teams and our amazing creative partners to do their very best work.”

In her new role, Ryan expands her in-house marketing agency to include Disney Branded Television and National Geographic Content. Since 2020, Ryan’s purview has included the marketing and publicity of shows from ABC Entertainment, ABC News, Freeform, Hulu Originals, Onyx Collective and Disney Television Studio. Pamela Levine, head of marketing for Disney Branded Television and National Geographic Content, will join Ryan’s direct reports. FX’s marketing will remain under the care of Stephanie Gibbons, president, marketing FX and Promax co-chair.

RELATED: Shannon Ryan Named Head of Marketing at Disney, ABC TV

Erwich, who already oversaw ABC Entertainment and Hulu, adds unscripted and alternative entertainment as well as Disney Branded Television streaming originals to his purview. Erwich has overseen Hulu since 2014 and came up through the programming ranks at Fox. Developed under his leadership have been such shows as The Handmaid’s Tale, Only Murders in the Building, Abbott Elementary, The Great, Ramy, The Dropout, Dopesick and The Kardashians, among many others. With his expanded title, Erwich also will help bolster Disney Branded Television’s content strategy to fuel Disney Plus with broad original programming that appeals to families.

Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, will report to Erwich for streaming strategy and content and continue to report to Walden regarding programming the Disney Channel and Disney Junior cable networks. Sharon Klein, executive vice president of casting, and Rob Mills, executive vice president of unscripted and alternative entertainment, will now also both report to Erwich.

Schrier moves over to Disney General Entertainment from FX, where he had been president of FX Entertainment since May 2019. In his new role, Schrier will oversee operations across DGE and Disney Television Studios, including 20th Television, 20th Television Animation and ABC Signature. Reporting to Schrier are studio heads Karey Burke, president of 20th Television; Marci Proietto, executive vice president, 20th Television Animation; Jonnie Davis, president of ABC Signature; and in business operations, Trisha Husson, executive vice president of strategy and finance.

Bryan Noon, president of entertainment at Walt Disney Television who joined the company last November from Netflix, will depart after a transition period.

Tags: career moves craig erwich disney branded television disney general entertainment eric schrier hulu shannon ryan


  Save as PDF