New Head of Marketing at Disney Channels Worldwide

BURBANK: John Rood, a seasoned marketing exec and Disney alum, is returning to the company as senior VP of marketing for Disney Channels Worldwide, effective immediately.

Rood is taking over for Richard Loomis, who has decided to leave the company after nine years. In his new role, Rood will work under Gary Marsh, the president and chief creative officer of Disney Channels Worldwide. He is responsible for guiding the creative marketing vision, on-channel promotion and off-channel marketing for the kids’ and family entertainment portfolio, which comprises Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior.

Rood will also oversee creative marketing support for Disney’s media sales and marketing team while collaborating with programming and franchise management, as well as the affiliate sales and marketing and research groups, and the Radio Disney national network. In addition to managing the channel marketing teams, Rood will lead the off-air design, marketing strategy and analytics and marketing operations functions.

For the past ten months, Rood has been consulting exclusively with Disney Channels Worldwide to develop strategies for evolving the organization and its short-form content and social media. He previously served as executive VP of DC Entertainment from 2010 to 2014. Rood worked for The Walt Disney Company from 2000 to 2010, serving as VP of marketing for Disney/ABC Television Group from 2000 to 2004, and senior VP of marketing for ABC Family from 2004 to 2010. Prior to joining Disney, he worked for Warner Bros.

Marsh remarked: “John Rood is a maker and a builder, with a rare combination of creative and strategic leadership skills and an innate understanding of the Disney brand. He has a unique capacity to transform how large teams address viewers’ evolving needs in a complex, multiplatform portfolio.”

Marsh added: “Richard has made enormous contributions to Disney Channels Worldwide during his tenure. As an important and highly respected member of my senior team, his leadership, creativity and strategic expertise have been invaluable to me. Although I hoped to have the opportunity to work with him through the next phase of our growth, I respect his decision, will miss his wonderfully collegial approach and wish him every success in the future.”

Loomis said, “From High School Musical 2 and Descendants to the launch of Disney XD and Disney Junior, it’s been an amazing ride covering a lot of ground in the U.S. and all around the world, and for that I feel very proud. I also feel that it’s the right time to explore the next chapter that awaits me and between now and the next four weeks, will transition with my good friend and successor John Rood, who will have the support of a truly outstanding marketing and creative team.”

Rood noted: “I am honored to return to Disney Channel and Gary Marsh. I have such confidence in these people and these properties and these partners. I’m grateful to my friend Richard Loomis, who has built three world-class channel brands and upon whom we’ll keep calling for sage marketing advice. These are exciting times for us; the platforms may be in flux, but the keys to kids’ TV engagement are the same as ever: quality storytelling, franchise affinity and heart. Advantage us.”