Dana Walden is unifying Disney’s film, television, streaming and gaming under one roof days before a new CEO takes the reins.
Walden, the incoming president and chief creative officer of the Walt Disney Company, unveiled a revamped leadership structure Monday that consolidates the House of Mouse’s sprawling content operations into a single powerhouse division.
The restructuring elevates longtime exec Debra OConnell to a newly created role as chair of Disney Entertainment Television, handing her sweeping authority over the company’s TV operations.
OConnell will oversee ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals, National Geographic content and the creative output of 20th Television and 20th Television Animation — while continuing to run ABC News and the company’s owned TV stations.
The move consolidates Disney’s television and news operations under a single executive, making OConnell one of the most powerful figures inside the company.
The shakeup comes on the eve of Josh D’Amaro officially stepping in as CEO, replacing longtime chief Bob Iger and cementing Walden’s role as the central creative force shaping Disney’s next chapter.
The newly created role — described by the company as a first — puts Walden in charge of Disney’s entire creative engine, reporting directly to D’Amaro.
“The strength of Disney has always been the emotional connection between our stories and the people who love them,” she said in an email obtained by The Post.
“As fans engage with Disney across more formats and platforms than ever before, we are bringing together the full power of our creative businesses to build an even more connected experience for audiences.”
Under the overhaul, Disney’s streaming platforms, film studios, television networks and its fast-growing video games and digital entertainment business will all fall under Walden’s oversight.
The move marks a major strategic pivot as the Burbank giant bets tighter integration will help it compete as audiences shift across platforms.
One of the biggest changes pulls Disney’s games unit out of its parks-focused Experiences division and into its core entertainment arm — aligning gaming with Disney+ and Hulu.
The company pointed to its partnership with Epic Games — including plans to build a Disney universe connected to Fortnite — as a key part of that push.
Sean Shoptaw, who leads games and digital entertainment, will now report directly to Walden.
Her team will keep key lieutenants in place, including Alan Bergman, who will remain chairman of Disney Entertainment’s studios, overseeing film production, marketing and distribution.
Bergman will also continue sharing oversight of Disney’s direct-to-consumer business — including Disney+ and Hulu — alongside Walden.
Those streaming platforms will be run day-to-day by Joe Earley and Adam Smith, who have been named co-presidents of direct-to-consumer.
Earley will also serve as head of content strategy, while Smith will continue as chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
The dual leadership structure underscores the high stakes of streaming, which remains central to Disney’s growth strategy.
In a further shift, Disney Television Studios chief Eric Schrier will now report to Earley, bringing international originals more directly into the streaming operation.
Other key figures include John Landgraf, chairman of FX, who will continue reporting directly to Walden, and chief marketing and brand officer Asad Ayaz, who will report to both Walden and D’Amaro.
In an internal memo, Walden described the reorganization as a pivotal moment as Disney transitions leadership at the top.
“This is a momentous week for the company, as Josh becomes our new CEO,” she wrote.
Walden emphasized that audiences increasingly expect to engage with Disney’s franchises across multiple formats.
“Consumers today want to engage with Disney’s storytelling and characters in a multitude of ways — whether on Disney+, in theaters, or through the digital games they love to play,” she wrote.
The reorganization comes as Disney looks to build on recent box office dominance — including three billion-dollar films in the past year and leading the global box office for nine of the last 10 years — while expanding its reach in streaming and gaming.
