Former Disney Exec Rich Ross Named CEO of Shine America

LOS ANGELES: Rich Ross, the former chairman of The Walt Disney Studios and president of Disney Channels Worldwide, has been tapped for the CEO post at Shine America, where he will succeed Carl Fennessy as of January 2013. 

Fennessy previously signed to a two-year term for the Los Angeles post. At the end of this contract, he will return to Australia, where he remains joint-CEO of Shine Australia in mid-2013. Ross takes up his new post in January 2013. 

Alex Mahon, the CEO of Shine Group, said: “We are delighted that Rich will be coming to Shine America to build on the brilliant and transformative work achieved under Carl’s tenure. Rich is an outstanding creative leader, responsible for not only launching iconic franchises but overseeing explosive growth in broadcast brands under his direction. He is perfectly suited to lead Shine America into its next phase of growth and complements Shine Group’s senior team of creative entrepreneurs globally.”

Ross commented: “I am very excited to join Liz, Alex and the entire Shine team which has shown how a creatively-led content company can both be global in scope, yet nimble and entrepreneurial in local territories. I look forward to furthering the expansion of Shine America’s portfolio both by adapting Shine’s hit shows from around the world, as well as creating new original content.”

Fennessy added: “It has been a hugely enjoyable and rewarding time at Shine America, and I would like to thank my incredible team here and the wider television community in the U.S. for making me feel so welcome. Rich is highly accomplished and I believe his arrival is the final piece of the jigsaw that we’ve aimed to put together here. I look forward to returning home later next year, safe in the knowledge that Shine America is in great hands for the future.”

Elisabeth Murdoch, the chairman of Shine Group, remarked: “I have known and admired Rich for many years. He is a world-class executive and the ideal leader to build on our extraordinary momentum at Shine America. I am personally delighted that he has decided to join us and he will be a brilliant addition to the whole Group. We all welcome him warmly. On behalf of everyone at Shine, I would like to thank Carl for his outstanding leadership over the last 18 months. He will be missed in America as much as he will be welcomed home in Australia.”