Disney Merges Consumer Products & Interactive Divisions

BURBANK: The Walt Disney Company is combining its consumer products and interactive units to form Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI).

DCPI will be run jointly by Leslie Ferraro, co-chair of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media and president of Disney Consumer Products, and Jimmy Pitaro, co-chair of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media and president of Disney Interactive. The realigned structure is designed to share technological expertise and maximize opportunities and efficiencies across the two divisions, which have increasingly become focused on similar objectives. Additionally, the change is meant to more effectively leverage Disney’s licensing structure and retail relationships across both segments.

A new team called DCPI Labs will focus on using cutting-edge technologies to create new immersive products. DCPI Labs will report directly to Ferraro and Pitaro. Disney Publishing Worldwide will also report jointly to Ferraro and Pitaro. The functional areas of finance, strategy and business development, technology, human resources and communications will be combined into joint teams reporting to both Pitaro and Ferraro. The traditional consumer products portfolio—product development, licensing, retail relationship management, and more—will continue under Ferraro’s leadership. Pitaro will continue to manage social and mobile games, Asia games, online media and sales, and Disney Infinity.

“Both Disney Interactive and Disney Consumer Products have a strong track record of connecting people to their favorite stories and characters,” said Tom Staggs, the COO of The Walt Disney Company. “As technology and digital entertainment continue to evolve, a shared innovation strategy will enable this new segment to create unique and engaging products and experiences that exceed consumers’ expectations.”

“The timing of this announcement could not be better, with both divisions seeing great success in the marketplace with technology-driven initiatives alongside our more traditional lines of business,” added Ferraro.

“We are looking forward to leveraging Disney Interactive’s digital, technological and mobile expertise to explore the unlimited possibilities that this partnership represents,” said Pitaro.