Disney-ABC Adds Execs to Digital Media Team

BURBANK, September 10:
Disney-ABC Television Group has named three new executives to its digital media
senior management team: Karin Timpone, Lauren DeVillier and Beth Johnson.

Timpone joins as the
senior VP of product strategy and marketing for the digital media team, working
to build brands and create new marketing models for the digital media future of
the company’s content platforms such as VOD, broadband, web-based and mobile
offerings as well as interactive TV technologies. Prior to joining Disney-ABC
Television Group in August, Timpone held senior leadership positions at Yahoo!

Joining the company as VP
of digital media for Disney Channel is DeVillier. She will be responsible for
overseeing the digital team that manages DisneyChannel.com,
PlayhouseDisney.com, RadioDisney.com and kids-based mobile efforts. She will
also partner with Disney Online on digital initiatives related to the Disney XD
brand, which debuts early next year. DeVillier recently oversaw the Yahoo! Kids
business, with responsibility for strategy, content, research and business
management.

Johnson has been appointed
as the VP of digital media for ABC Daytime and SOAPnet. She takes on
responsibility for the recent relaunch of the new SOAPnet.com, which now covers
daytime and prime-time soaps. Her remit also includes all digital initiatives
related to ABC’s daytime programming, including The View, All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. Johnson previously served as the editorial
director of digital media for Bravo.

Timpone, DeVillier and
Johnson report to Albert
Cheng, the executive VP of digital media for Disney-ABC Television Group.

Cheng commented: “I am
very pleased to add these talented individuals to our digital media management
team. The leadership, knowledge and distinguished track record of successes
that Karin, Lauren and Beth bring, combined with that of our existing top-notch
management team, will help us continue to lead the industry by extending Disney-ABC
Television Group’s quality brands and sought-after content into new platforms
and new markets.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski