BURBANK, Calif. -- (Business Wire)
Underscoring the growing importance of Asia to The Walt Disney Company’s
global growth strategy, Paul Candland has been named to the newly
created position of president, The Walt Disney Company, Asia, with
oversight of Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Greater China. Mr.
Candland, a 16-year Disney veteran and president of Walt Disney Japan,
will be responsible for driving the company’s strategy and coordinating
all of its business efforts in Asia. He will report directly to Andy
Bird, chairman Walt Disney International. Rob Gilby, managing director,
TWDC South East Asia, will report to Mr. Candland.
In addition, Stanley Cheung, managing director of TWDC Greater China,
has been promoted to chairman of TWDC Greater China, reporting to Mr.
Bird. Senior vice president Luke Kang will assume Mr. Cheung’s former
role as managing director of TWDC Greater China. Mr. Kang will report to
both Mr. Cheung and Mr. Candland and will have direct oversight of
Disney’s businesses in Greater China, excluding Shanghai Disney Resort
and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which report to Walt Disney Parks and
Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs.
“Asia is a region of incredible growth and great promise for Disney, and
these management changes are designed to ensure we maximize our
opportunities there today and in the future,” said Robert A. Iger,
chairman and chief executive of The Walt Disney Company. “This new
structure will bring greater focus and the ability to share best
practices across businesses and countries as we grow strategically in
Asian markets.”
“Under Paul's leadership, we will be able to accelerate our businesses
in Greater China, Japan, Korea and South East Asia,” Mr. Bird said. “He
has done an amazing job of expanding our business in Japan, delivering
double-digit growth across all business segments, particularly with the
success of Disney Mobile, Gaming, Disney Stores and Disney Consumer
Products, and the launch of DLife, our channel serving young adult
female audiences.”
Mr. Candland joined Disney in 1998 as representative director and
general manager of Disney Store Japan, overseeing operations at some 80
locations. In 2002, he became managing director of Walt Disney
Television International (Japan), and was responsible for launching both
the Disney Channel and Toon Disney in Japan. In 2007 he was named
president of TWDC Japan. Prior to joining Disney, Mr. Candland worked at
Pepsi-Cola Co. for more than 10 years. In 1994 he was named president of
Okinawa Pepsi-Cola, and subsequently served as the Japan representative
for Pepsi-Cola International. Mr. Candland holds a bachelor’s degree in
finance from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Pennsylvania State
University.
In announcing the promotions of Mr. Cheung and Mr. Kang in Greater
China, Mr. Bird pointed to the rapid growth of Disney’s business in the
region. “It is my belief that Greater China will become our biggest
international market in the coming years. Today, China is one of our
biggest markets for the Studio, and we have a well-established Disney
Consumer Products and TV distribution business. The rapid emergence of
mobile and digital platforms provides even more opportunities for us,
and construction is underway for the largest Disney Store in the world
and, of course, Shanghai Disney Resort.” Mr. Bird added, “With all of
this in mind, and considering the unique manner of doing business in
China, I decided to support Stanley's leadership and vision with Luke's
proven ability to effectively manage our businesses.”
Mr. Cheung was named managing director of TWDC China in 2004, and has
been responsible for driving the company’s strategy and coordinating its
business efforts in China. He joined Disney from Johnson & Johnson
(China) Ltd., where he served as managing director. From 1996-2001, Mr.
Cheung worked for Pillsbury Co. in Shanghai, serving in a series of
positions culminating in managing director, North Asia. Previously, Mr.
Cheung worked for the China division of Pepsi-Cola International. He
started his career with Proctor & Gamble. Mr. Cheung holds a bachelor’s
degree in business administration from The Chinese University of Hong
Kong and an MBA from Indiana University.
Mr. Kang joined Disney in 2011 as senior vice president and managing
director of The Walt Disney Company (Korea) Ltd. Prior to Disney, Mr.
Kang was chief operating officer at Live 365, an internet radio company
based in Silicon Valley. He also held various senior management roles at
MTV Networks in Asia Pacific, including senior vice president of
strategy and business development for Asia Pacific, head of Asia Pacific
digital media, and managing director of Korea. From 1996 to 2000 he
worked as a management consultant for Monitor Group Asia Pacific Region,
and he was an analyst at the Ministry of Finance & Economy of the
Republic of Korea from 1995 to 1996. Mr. Kang holds a master’s degree in
management as a Sloan Fellow from Stanford University Graduate School of
Business, and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), together with its subsidiaries and
affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and
media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and
resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive. Disney
is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $45 billion in its Fiscal
Year 2013.
Contacts:
The Walt Disney Company
Zenia Mucha
Corporate Communications
818-560-5300
or
Mariam
Sughayer
Corporate Communications
818-560-3117
Source: The Walt Disney Company
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