UPDATED: Debra OConnell, a longtime Disney business executive who has overseen the financial structures of many of the company’s best-known TV properties, has been named chairman of Disney’s entertainment-TV operations, a new role that makes her the central creative leader across the company’s U.S. broadcast, cable and streaming properties.

The move for OConnell is a key part of the management structure unveiled Monday by Dana Walden, newly promoted to the role of Disney’s chief creative officer under incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro. D’Amaro and Walden are set to formally begin their new roles on March 19, following Disney’s annual shareholders meeting, which will mark the handoff from CEO Bob Iger.

OConnell continues to report to Dana Walden. OConnell will continue to supervise the operations of ABC News, which she has run since 2024.

OConnell’s new role was disclosed in an announcement detailing the organization of the company’s entertainment business under Walden given her new role. Walden previously steered Disney’s TV efforts (with the exception of ESPN) in her role as Disney Entertainment co-chair.

Most of Disney’s top entertainment executives will retain their roles in the hierarchy unveiled Monday. Alan Bergman will continue to oversee Disney’s film studios and will have shared oversight of direct to consumer, along with Walden. John Landgraf, chairman of FX, will continue to report directly to Walden.

But there are some changes as well. Joe Earley and Adam Smith will become co-presidents of the company’s direct to consumer business, sharing responsibility for strategy and financial performance across Disney+ and Hulu, reporting to Walden and Bergman. Earley will also serve as head of content strategy for direct to consumer, while Smith continues as chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment, and for ESPN, where he will continue to report to ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. 

Walden will also take oversight of games and digital entertainment. Sean Shoptaw, the executive vice president who oversees that division, will report to Walden. That puts Disney’s overall videogames business, including a collaboration with Epic Games, under Walden’s purview.

OConnell has enjoyed a long career at Disney, serving as president and general manager of WABC in New York, and managing the business of “Live” the syndicated program led by Kelly Ripa. She has also led national ad sales for the company’s stations group.

In her own memo to staff on Monday seen by Variety, OConnell further revealed her own management team. Among the changes, OConnell has given Craig Erwich oversight over 20th Television and 20th Television Animation, with Karey Burke and Marci Proietto now reporting to him. He continues to oversee ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals.

Meanwhile, Ayo Davis and the Disney Branded Television team will now report directly to OConnell, as will Courteney Monroe and National Geographic Content. Ad sales chief Rita Ferro and Jimmy Zasowski, president of platform distribution for the Disney Entertainment and ESPN brands, will now report to OConnell for television, and to Alan Bergman and Jimmy Pitaro “for each of their respective businesses,” per the memo.

“As we begin this new journey together, I am both energized and humbled by the individuals throughout our organization who will shape our future and carry forward the spirit of storytelling that defines our company,” OConnell wrote.

The full memo can be seen below.

Memo from Debra OConnell:

Team,

Before anything else, I want to thank Dana Walden for her extraordinary leadership and for the confidence she has placed in me to serve as chairman of Disney Entertainment Television. Dana has been an incredible champion of creative excellence across our organization, and her vision and thoughtful leadership have catapulted the momentum we are building on today. I’m deeply grateful to Dana and Josh D’Amaro for their support as we move forward together.

One of the greatest privileges of working for The Walt Disney Company is the ability to serve alongside exceptionally talented people across every team and facet of our work. The creativity, innovation and collaboration I’ve witnessed throughout my nearly three decades with the company continue to inspire me every day. As we begin this new journey together, I am both energized and humbled by the individuals throughout our organization who will shape our future and carry forward the spirit of storytelling that defines our company.

With that in mind, I’m pleased to share my new senior leadership team with all of you.

Craig Erwich will now oversee 20th Television and 20th Television Animation, with Karey Burke and Marci Proietto reporting to him. Craig will continue to lead ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals.

Ayo Davis and the Disney Branded Television team will now report into me.

Courteney Monroe and the National Geographic Content organization will also report to me directly.

Almin Karamehmedovic and Chad Matthews will continue to report to me as the heads of ABC News and ABC Owned Television Stations, respectively.

Rita Ferro and Jimmy Zasowski will now report to me for television, and to Alan Bergman and Jimmy Pitaro for each of their respective businesses.

Sean Cocchia will now dual report to me and Eric Schrier on Content Strategy.

Let me be the first to say this is an all-star team. And, in the weeks ahead, we will be refining aspects of this new organizational structure and processes. As those decisions take shape, we will share more details. Thank you for your patience during this period of transition and for the professionalism and focus you bring to your work every day.

Across our studios, networks and platforms, we give life to stories that connect with audiences around the world in meaningful ways. More than ever, we’ll be working closely with our Direct-to-Consumer partners – Joe Earley and Adam Smith – and their teams as we embrace a unified content strategy and continue to deliver the culture-defining, award-winning titles that inspire generations.

Finally, for those of you who are joining my organization for the first time, I’d like to leave you with a mantra that has served me well throughout my career – Work hard, play smart and throw kindness like confetti. I hope you’ll keep those words in mind as we move forward together.

Thank you for all you do.

Debra