Disney Australia and New Zealand's MD Catherine Powell is leaving the top job, having scored a promotion to a Euro Disney president position based in Paris.
Powell will leave her role next month and successor for the Australia and New Zealand business is set to be announced shortly.
Powell, who has been in the Sydney-based role for two years, arrived in Australia in June 2014, having spent more than 10 years in London at The Walt Disney Company as SVP/ GM media distribution EMEA.
Powell, who oversaw Carat chief strategy officer Gavin Ashcroft's move to Disney CMO ANZ last year, will take the position of president of Euro Disney S.A.S., the management company of both Euro Disney S.C.A., the holding company, and Euro Disney Associés S.C.A., the operator of Disneyland Paris.
Chairman of Walt Disney International, Andy Bird, said: “The appointment of Catherine Powell as President of Euro Disney S.A.S. is testament to her achievements most recently in the Australian and New Zealand market, and her 12 years-experience in global roles throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.”
Powell was responsible for leading all of Disney’s business divisions, overseeing global franchises and expanding existing and new business in the region. Disney says she forged a strong community profile and in 2015 was elected a member of chief executive women, a pre-eminent organisation representing Australia’s most senior women leaders from the corporate, public service, academic and not-for-profit sectors.
She replaces Tom Wolber, who will return to the US to take on operational responsibilities of Disney Cruise Line at a critical time for that business.
It remains to be seen who the top spot will go to. Other vacant top spots across adland in Australia include Google ANZ MD and a rumoured Sydney-based Snapchat MD position.
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