Diego Lerner, long-term president of Disney Lat Am, dies

Diego Lerner, for years president of Disney in Latin America, has passed away just weeks after segueing to an honorary president role.

Diego Lerner

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Named president for Latin America in 2018, Lerner had previously overseen Disney’s EMEA business between 2009 and 2017.

His career at the company began in the early 1990s, when he led the group’s initial expansion in Latin America and played a key role in the development of pay TV and the launch of the Disney Channels in the region from 2000 onwards.

He took up the presidential role in November after suffering with illness, with Martín Iraol taking over as president.

Lerner passed away on December 18 after suffering with a long illness.

“We express our deepest condolences to Diego’s family. I know I speak for everyone at Disney in recognising how much he will be missed,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, in a press release.