Disney/ABC Television Group Appoints SVP for Franchise Management

BURBANK: Adam Sanderson is taking on an expanded role in the newly created post of senior VP for franchise management at the Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG).

Currently the senior VP of brand marketing at Disney Channels Worldwide, Sanderson will now lead the development of franchise strategy across the DATG business units. His remit includes Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney, ABC Family, ABC Entertainment Group, ABC News, ABC Daytime and Hyperion Publishing. His focus is to generate revenue-producing franchise for DATG and The Walt Disney Company.

Sanderson has been with Disney since March 1997, when he joined as VP of marketing for Disney Channel. Prior to Disney Channel, he was the VP of promotion marketing for FX Network.

Peter Seymour, the executive VP of strategy and research at Disney Media Networks, stated: “As a content creation engine for The Walt Disney Company, we felt it was critical for Disney/ABC Television Group to have someone solely dedicated to managing the current and future franchises developed and produced by the Group. Luckily, we had the best executive for this already doing part of the job. Adam has spent the last decade successfully identifying, shepherding and maximizing franchises for Disney Channels’ global kids business, and we’re excited for him to now bring his expertise and talent to bear on behalf of the entire Disney/ABC TV portfolio.”

Sanderson said: “While the Kids TV business has been the biggest contributor to franchise growth to date, I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to leverage and extend the myriad properties from ABC and ABC Family to build long-term franchises for the company.”