Jan Koeppen steps down as Disney restructure sees Tony Chambers promoted to president of EMEA
Jan Koeppen, left, and Tony Chambers
The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) has promoted global head of theatrical distribution Tony Chambers to president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Current EMEA president Jan Koeppen is stepping down in February as part of the wider company restructure, which will see the Mouse House change how its entertainment businesses in the region function to ensure “further unification of the company’s global strategy.”
Chambers will report to Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
In the new structure, several of the company’s lines of business in the region, including direct-to-consumer, ad sales, platform distribution, networks, studio marketing, theatrical distribution and sports will now report directly in to the global business leaders of those businesses, who will have profit and loss oversight for their respective regional businesses in EMEA.
The regional president will continue to be the company’s representative in the region and be responsible for “consolidating strategic priorities and financials” and coordinating teams at the regional level, leading local initiatives that span across businesses, excluding Disney Experiences, and overseeing shared service functions including human resources, communications and finance, Disney said.
It comes as TWDC plans to commit US$5bn over the next five years to produce more blockbuster movies and TV shows in EMEA, including local originals for Disney+. The media giant is currently searching for an original content chief in EMEA as Liam Keelan gears up to leave the Mouse House after five years.
Koeppen will step down in February after a six-year tenure as regional lead at TWDC EMEA, which saw him responsible for leading the EMEA business commercially and operationally in over 130 markets across the region.
Koeppen has overall responsibility of Disney’s portfolio in EMEA, including Disney+, motion pictures, television, content licensing, local original productions and stage plays as well as strategy and business development.
Before joining TWDC, Koeppen was president of Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa, and prior to that was chief operating officer of 21st Century Fox in Europe and Asia.
Chambers, meanwhile, has 30 years’ experience with TWDC. Most recently, as head of theatrical distribution, he oversaw global film distribution as well as home entertainment, including all films released under the Disney, Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures labels.
Prior to that, Chambers served as senior VP of studio distribution, Europe, and UK and Ireland country manager. With Chambers taking on the role of EMEA president, a new global head of theatrical distribution will be named “in the near future,” Disney said.
“EMEA is a key region in terms of the success of our business globally, and as we realign our strategy for our entertainment businesses there, we are fortunate to transition between two fantastic leaders,” said Bergman, Walden and Pitaro in a joint statement.
“Tony Chambers is a seasoned senior executive who has a highly collaborative style and stellar reputation in EMEA and across the company, and he brings a wealth of experience to this important new role. We look forward to continuing to accelerate our growth in EMEA and around the world, and we are immensely grateful for Jan’s exceptional contributions, which have made a meaningful and enduring difference to this team and the company during his tenure.”
Chambers added: “I’m truly honoured to be leading the world-class EMEA team in this new capacity. It’s a dynamic region that has gone through incredible, positive change over the past several years and I’m very eager now to build on that momentum.”
Koeppen said: “I’m grateful for the incredible six years I have had at Disney, working with some of the most talented and creative people in the industry through a period of profound transformation and growth as we launched and established Disney+ in the region. I leave with a full heart and with great pride in the exceptional Disney EMEA team.”
