Disney’s Dana Walden Promotes Eric Schrier, Craig Erwich & Shannon Ryan – Deadline

In Dana Walden’s first personnel transfer since being upped to Chairman of Disney General Entertainment three months in the past, Walden has promoted three executives: Eric Schrier, who’s taking over a brand new, bigger position, in addition to Craig Erwich and Shannon Ryan who’re increasing their present obligations.

The largest shock is the transfer of 20-year FX veteran Schrier, who has been most not too long ago FX chairman John Landgraf’s quantity two, to develop into president of Disney Television Studios & Enterprise Operations, Disney Common Leisure.

Erwich has been promoted to president, ABC Leisure, Hulu & Disney Branded Tv Streaming Originals. Ryan has been upped to President, Advertising, Disney Common Leisure.

Bryan Midday, who joined the corporate from Netflix in November 2021 as President of Leisure, changing Craig Hunegs, is exiting as a part of the shuffle.

Within the prime DGE put up, Walden changed Peter Rice following his stunning dismissal. The transfer raised questions as as to if she would fill her previous job. Observers have famous that there had been an overlap between Rice and Walden duties and that Walden is understood for her potential to multitask. Nonetheless, Disney’s construction is constructed on prime executives having few stories. The promotions for Schrier, Erwich and Ryan, who all will report back to Walden, assist scale back the variety of her direct stories with out bringing in a straight alternative for her earlier place.

Most not too long ago President, FX Leisure, a job he was elevated to in May 2019, Schrier will oversee operations throughout Disney Tv Studios together with twentieth Tv, twentieth Tv Animation and ABC Signature.

Karey Burke, President of twentieth Tv and Jonnie Davis, President of ABC Signature, who beforehand reported to Walden, in addition to Marci Proietto, EVP, twentieth Tv Animation, and Trisha Husson, EVP of Technique & Finance, will now report back to Schrier whose new position is absorbing the obligations beforehand held by Midday, leading to his exit.

This marks a uncommon departure from Landgraf’s close-knit senior government staff of 20 years. Nevertheless it represents a chance for Schrier, who has been a rising star at FX, to maneuver as much as a much bigger job whereas staying at Disney. The transfer mirrors that of one other former prime Landgraf lieutenant, Chuck Saftler who now’s a high-level government on Disney’s distribution staff. Landgraf, as soon as thought-about a rival of Walden’s, offered effusive reward and equivocal assist of her following her promotion to the highest DGE put up, calling her “a pure born chief.”

FX is but to share its succession plan following Schrier’s exit however it’s anticipated to incorporate the 2 senior executives underneath him, Presidents of Authentic Programming Nick Grad and Gina Balian. Similar to with Walden’s previous job, Schrier’s position possible received’t be immediately refilled, with remaining prime execs taking over further obligations.

Schrier, who began at FX as former Leisure President Kevin Reilly’s assistant greater than 20 years in the past, has grown right into a uncommon TV government who has excelled each on the artistic and enterprise facet; he spearheaded the launch of FX Prods., got here up with a enterprise mannequin for It’s All the time Sunny in Philadelphia and likewise performed a key position in such reveals as Nip/Tuck, The Individuals in addition to breakouts The Bear, by which Grad was additionally very concerned, and The Previous Man.

Along with overseeing the linear ABC community and streamer Hulu, Erwich is including Disney Branded Tv Streaming Originals to his patch. The exec behind latest sequence corresponding to Solely Murders within the Constructing, Dopesick and Abbott Elementary will now additionally oversee Disney Branded Tv family-friendly originals for Disney+.

Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Tv, will now report back to Erwich for streaming technique and content material, and can proceed to report back to Walden for programming on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior cable networks.

Moreover, Erwich can be taking oversight of non-scripted programming with Rob Mills, EVP of Unscripted and Different Leisure reporting to him, along with Sharon Klein, EVP of Casting.

Ryan, a longtime shut Walden affiliate, has led advertising and marketing and publicity for ABC Leisure, ABC Information, Freeform, Hulu Originals, Onyx Collective and Disney Tv Studios since 2020 and can now broaden her in-house advertising and marketing company to incorporate Disney Branded Tv and Nationwide Geographic Content material. The promotion signifies that DBT and Nat Geo advertising and marketing and publicity chief Pam Levine, who had reported to Davis and Nat Geo International TV Networks President Courteney Monroe, will now report back to Ryan. There isn’t any change at FX advertising and marketing, which isn’t reporting to Ryan. It would keep underneath the management of Stephanie Gibbons, president, Advertising, FX, who has overseen the model for the previous 18 years.

Along with Erwich, Ryan and Schrier, Walden’s direct stories embrace Landgraf, Davis (on Disney Channel/Disney Jr.), Monroe, Tara Duncan, President of Freeform and Onyx Collective, and Kim Godwin, President of ABC Information.

“I’m extremely lucky to be working with among the highest executives in our trade, and Craig, Shannon and Eric are precisely that – the very best. These are confirmed leaders with each unbelievable artistic sensibilities and robust enterprise acumen,” stated Walden. “Moreover, they’ve lengthy and spectacular observe data of supporting their groups and our wonderful artistic companions to do their highest work.”