Leading our Who’s News section, Disney has promoted Jane Gould to EVP of content research, insights and scheduling at Disney General Entertainment (DGE) Content.
Gould’s position is now expanding at the House of Mouse to provide consumer insights to more of Disney’s brands. Reporting to the DGE EVP of strategy and business operations Trisha Husson, Gould will now work across Hulu Originals, ABC Entertainment, ABC News, Disney Branded Television, FX, Freeform and National Geographic, managing show testing, marketing and brand strategy rollouts, as well as sharing insights on the industry and audience viewing habits. She will also oversee scheduling strategy for ABC Entertainment’s original programming and Disney Branded Television’s first-run acquisitions.
Gould was previously SVP of consumer insights and programming strategy, heading up research and analytics for Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior. She also managed the kids channels’ planning, scheduling, acquisitions and co-productions teams, and all of their televised programming. Before joining Disney in 2016, Gould served as SVP of research and insights for MTV Networks, and SVP of global brand and consumer insights at Nickelodeon.
Gould’s promotion is part of a wider and massive restructuring, as Disney shifts away from channel-focused organizations into a holistic company in which various divisions work more broadly together. Disney General Entertainment, which was set up in November 2020, is tasked with developing, producing and marketing content for both streaming and linear platforms.
Wildbrain Appoints VP of Development
WildBrain has hired former Spin Master director Lorna Withrington as its new VP of development for animation.
In her newly created role, Withrington will lead the Toronto-based prodco’s efforts to create original animated IPs and new content for its existing brands. Reporting to EVP of content and current series Stephanie Betts, she now oversees director of development Todd Brian and development manager Holly Nichols.
Betts previously managed Withrington’s responsibilities, and Withrington’s support will allow her to focus on current series and broader strategic development, according to a spokesperson for WildBrain.
Prior to joining WildBrain in March, Withrington spent two years at Spin Master as a director of development. And before that, she served as director of creative affairs for eOne’s family brands (overseeing Peppa Pig and Ricky Zoom) and was a production manager at HIT Entertainment.
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