Disney has let go SVP and Chief Compliance Officer Alicia Schwarz, Deadline has learned, amid a major retrenchment at the company.
Her role will be absorbed by Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel Horacio Gutierrez. She joined the company in 2014 as principal counsel, later serving as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, as well as Global Deputy Chief Compliance Counsel.
The corporate compliance function oversees compliance with Disney’s global ethics and standards of business conduct and manages regulatory compliance with anti-corruption and trade law.
Disney under chief executive Bob Iger is in the midst of a sweeping overhaul that includes rounds of layoffs – the first starting this week – in a push to cut billions in costs against an uncertain background for media and the broader economy.
All told, the cuts will target 7,000 staffers. As Deadline reported, an initial exodus is related to a consolidation of production operations across Disney TV Studios,...
Her role will be absorbed by Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel Horacio Gutierrez. She joined the company in 2014 as principal counsel, later serving as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, as well as Global Deputy Chief Compliance Counsel.
The corporate compliance function oversees compliance with Disney’s global ethics and standards of business conduct and manages regulatory compliance with anti-corruption and trade law.
Disney under chief executive Bob Iger is in the midst of a sweeping overhaul that includes rounds of layoffs – the first starting this week – in a push to cut billions in costs against an uncertain background for media and the broader economy.
All told, the cuts will target 7,000 staffers. As Deadline reported, an initial exodus is related to a consolidation of production operations across Disney TV Studios,...
- 3/29/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Global brand events veteran Diana Ruiz has been named Executive Vice President, Experiences and Design at Fox Entertainment, the media company announced on Wednesday. She will report to Fox Entertainment and Fox Sports Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Acosta.
“With more than 20 years in the global events arena, Diana possesses considerable, proven creativity, discipline and operational excellence,” said Acosta. “Her unique skill set will be invaluable as Fox leverages differentiated, measurable impact-driven events and experiences to continue expanding its leadership position within the worldwide media and content creation landscape.”
“Bringing my passion for conceiving and delivering unforgettable brand experiences to one of the world’s most recognizable names in media is both an honor and thrilling challenge,” said Ruiz. “Celebrating Fox’s bold, original brand of storytelling through physical, real-world moments is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I look forward to generating awareness and excitement for the tremendous creativity and...
“With more than 20 years in the global events arena, Diana possesses considerable, proven creativity, discipline and operational excellence,” said Acosta. “Her unique skill set will be invaluable as Fox leverages differentiated, measurable impact-driven events and experiences to continue expanding its leadership position within the worldwide media and content creation landscape.”
“Bringing my passion for conceiving and delivering unforgettable brand experiences to one of the world’s most recognizable names in media is both an honor and thrilling challenge,” said Ruiz. “Celebrating Fox’s bold, original brand of storytelling through physical, real-world moments is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I look forward to generating awareness and excitement for the tremendous creativity and...
- 3/29/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Jeffrey R. Epstein, a vice president of corporate communications for Disney and the man who spearheaded the official Disney fan club D23, was among those laid off this week, TheWrap has confirmed.
Previously working under Zenia Mucha, the feared and respected former senior executive vice president and Cco (otherwise known as the “Director of Revenge”), Epstein is perhaps best known as the spokesperson for D23 – an official Disney fan club that included a quarterly published glossy magazine and, eventually, an official fan convention known as D23 Expo, held every other year in Anaheim, California. Stephen Clark initially developed the concept and the current president of D23 is Michael Vargo.
The last D23 Expo event was held in 2022, having its schedule thrown off by the pandemic. Epstein additionally co-hosted a D23-themed podcast, “D23 Inside Disney,” along with Oh My Disney’s Sheri Henry.
News of the ouster came from six...
Previously working under Zenia Mucha, the feared and respected former senior executive vice president and Cco (otherwise known as the “Director of Revenge”), Epstein is perhaps best known as the spokesperson for D23 – an official Disney fan club that included a quarterly published glossy magazine and, eventually, an official fan convention known as D23 Expo, held every other year in Anaheim, California. Stephen Clark initially developed the concept and the current president of D23 is Michael Vargo.
The last D23 Expo event was held in 2022, having its schedule thrown off by the pandemic. Epstein additionally co-hosted a D23-themed podcast, “D23 Inside Disney,” along with Oh My Disney’s Sheri Henry.
News of the ouster came from six...
- 3/28/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
As part of the impending mass layoffs that will impact as many as 7,000 employees, Disney is eliminating its metaverse division, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
The metaverse team, per WSJ, was tasked with “fiinding ways to tell interactive stories in new technological formats using Disney’s extensive library of intellectual property.” It employed approximately 50 people, all of whom have been let go, according to WSJ. However, the division’s boss, former Disney consumer products executive Mike White, remains with the company in an undetermined capacity.
Representatives for Disney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.
The move comes just over a year after Disney created the division under former CEO Bob Chapek. In February 2022, in a memo to employees, Chapek wrote that the team would “create an entirely new paradigm for how audiences experience and engage with our stories.”
Chapek doubled down on the metaverse...
The metaverse team, per WSJ, was tasked with “fiinding ways to tell interactive stories in new technological formats using Disney’s extensive library of intellectual property.” It employed approximately 50 people, all of whom have been let go, according to WSJ. However, the division’s boss, former Disney consumer products executive Mike White, remains with the company in an undetermined capacity.
Representatives for Disney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.
The move comes just over a year after Disney created the division under former CEO Bob Chapek. In February 2022, in a memo to employees, Chapek wrote that the team would “create an entirely new paradigm for how audiences experience and engage with our stories.”
Chapek doubled down on the metaverse...
- 3/28/2023
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Exclusive: More changes at Paramount+: Tanya Giles, the streaming platform’s chief programming officer, is leaving after a combined 28 years at Paramount Global and its various iterations. A rep for Paramount+ confirmed Giles’ departure to Deadline, declining further comment. There is no immediate replacement, and Giles’ decision to step down is not part of a restructuring, sources said.
Related Story Disney General Entertainment Layoffs Include Mark Levenstein, Jayne Bieber & Elizabeth Newman As TV Production Gets Consolidated, IP Acquisitions Dissolved Related Story Paramount+ International Rollout Could Have Been Speedier, But Marco Nobili "Proud" Related Story 'A Gentleman In Moscow': Leah Harvey, Paul Ready & More Join Paramount+ & Showtime Drama Series
Giles was named to the role in June 2021 as part of a content leadership restructure at Paramount+. She has been overseeing a programming strategy for content offerings across the streamer and Pluto TV.
Giles is the third Paramount+ executive...
Related Story Disney General Entertainment Layoffs Include Mark Levenstein, Jayne Bieber & Elizabeth Newman As TV Production Gets Consolidated, IP Acquisitions Dissolved Related Story Paramount+ International Rollout Could Have Been Speedier, But Marco Nobili "Proud" Related Story 'A Gentleman In Moscow': Leah Harvey, Paul Ready & More Join Paramount+ & Showtime Drama Series
Giles was named to the role in June 2021 as part of a content leadership restructure at Paramount+. She has been overseeing a programming strategy for content offerings across the streamer and Pluto TV.
Giles is the third Paramount+ executive...
- 3/28/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
The first round of layoffs at Walt Disney, announced this morning in a company-wide memo, are already beginning to include some major losses.
Multiple media sources affirm that among those getting the pink slip are Mark Levenstein, Hulu’s senior vice president of production, and Jayne Bieber, Freeform’s senior vice president of production management and operations. Additionally, the VP of development who oversees creative acquisitions for 20th Television Studios, Elizabeth Newman, is being let go.
Newman’s acquisitions department will be dissolved, with its functions being absorbed by the studio. Bieber and Levenstein’s respective production teams will be folded under Carol Turner, currently ABC Signature’s EVP of production. She’s now expected to take on an expanded role with network and platform production for scripted television across Disney Entertainment being consolidated under her. She will report to Eric Schrier, president of Disney Television Studios and global original television strategy for Disney Entertainment.
Multiple media sources affirm that among those getting the pink slip are Mark Levenstein, Hulu’s senior vice president of production, and Jayne Bieber, Freeform’s senior vice president of production management and operations. Additionally, the VP of development who oversees creative acquisitions for 20th Television Studios, Elizabeth Newman, is being let go.
Newman’s acquisitions department will be dissolved, with its functions being absorbed by the studio. Bieber and Levenstein’s respective production teams will be folded under Carol Turner, currently ABC Signature’s EVP of production. She’s now expected to take on an expanded role with network and platform production for scripted television across Disney Entertainment being consolidated under her. She will report to Eric Schrier, president of Disney Television Studios and global original television strategy for Disney Entertainment.
- 3/27/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Updated: Details are starting to emerge about the first wave of Disney layoffs. It involves a consolidation of production operations across Disney TV Studios, Hulu, Freeform and FX under Carol Turner and the shutdown of the studio operation’s Creative Acquisitions department.
Carol Turner
Mark Levenstein, SVP Production for Hulu, and Jayne Bieber, SVP, Production Management & Operations for Freeform, are leaving as Turner, EVP and head of production for ABC Signature, is taking on an expanded role, with Network and Platform production for scripted television across Disney Entertainment getting consolidated under her. 20th Television EVP and head of production Nissa Diederich, and Nick Lombardo, SVP and head of production for FX, will now to report to her.
In her new role, Turner will report to Eric Schrier, Disney Television Studios & Global Original Television Strategy for Disney Entertainment.
Additionally, Elizabeth Newman, VP of Development who was based at 20th Television while...
Carol Turner
Mark Levenstein, SVP Production for Hulu, and Jayne Bieber, SVP, Production Management & Operations for Freeform, are leaving as Turner, EVP and head of production for ABC Signature, is taking on an expanded role, with Network and Platform production for scripted television across Disney Entertainment getting consolidated under her. 20th Television EVP and head of production Nissa Diederich, and Nick Lombardo, SVP and head of production for FX, will now to report to her.
In her new role, Turner will report to Eric Schrier, Disney Television Studios & Global Original Television Strategy for Disney Entertainment.
Additionally, Elizabeth Newman, VP of Development who was based at 20th Television while...
- 3/27/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Layoffs have begun in Disney’s television divisions.
Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Monday’s layoffs focused production and acquisitions. Among the notable staffers let go Monday are Jayne Bieber, senior vp production at Freeform/Onyx Collective; Mark Levenstein, head of production and postproduction at Hulu; and Elizabeth Newman, head of Disney’s acquisitions department.
Sources note Newman’s entire acquisitions team has been dissolved, while Bieber and Levenstein’s production teams will be folded under Carol Turner, exec vp production at ABC Signature. That team will continue to report to Eric Schrier, whom Dana Walden promoted late last year to president of Disney Television Studios and business operations at Disney General Entertainment.
Details on the size of Monday’s layoffs or what percentage of Disney’s workforce were impacted were not immediately available as additional TV side layoffs are expected to come by week’s end, with the largest round coming in April.
Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Monday’s layoffs focused production and acquisitions. Among the notable staffers let go Monday are Jayne Bieber, senior vp production at Freeform/Onyx Collective; Mark Levenstein, head of production and postproduction at Hulu; and Elizabeth Newman, head of Disney’s acquisitions department.
Sources note Newman’s entire acquisitions team has been dissolved, while Bieber and Levenstein’s production teams will be folded under Carol Turner, exec vp production at ABC Signature. That team will continue to report to Eric Schrier, whom Dana Walden promoted late last year to president of Disney Television Studios and business operations at Disney General Entertainment.
Details on the size of Monday’s layoffs or what percentage of Disney’s workforce were impacted were not immediately available as additional TV side layoffs are expected to come by week’s end, with the largest round coming in April.
- 3/27/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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