Carolina Lightcap Resigns As Disney Channels Worldwide President, Gary Marsh Promoted
via Disney Channel press release:
CAROLINA LIGHTCAP STEPS DOWN AS PRESIDENT,
DISNEY CHANNELS WORLDWIDE
Burbank, CA, September 15, 2011 . . . The Disney/ABC Television Group today announced that Carolina Lightcap, president, Disney Channels Worldwide, has decided to step down from her post effective immediately. In a separate release, Gary Marsh was named president and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.
In commenting on the announcement, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, said, “We’re sorry that Carolina has decided to leave us and appreciate her many valuable contributions over the years. During her tenure as president, Disney Channels Worldwide continued its incredible momentum, with the channel just delivering its most watched summer in history with Kids 6-11. She will be missed.”
“I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments over the past 11 years at both Disney Latin America and Disney Channels Worldwide. Building Disney Channel into #1 in Latin America, not just with kids but also in households, is a career highlight. And in the U.S., with Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior all enjoying some of their best ratings ever, I feel the timing is perfect to move on to my next challenge,” noted Ms. Lightcap. “My heartfelt thanks to Anne Sweeney for her guidance and inspiration. I’ll miss working with her and the talented Disney Channels Worldwide team.”
In addition to the success at Disney Channel and Disney XD during her tenure, Ms. Lightcap also led the launch of Disney Junior, a new global brand for kids age 2-7 anchored in a daily programming block on Disney Channel, which in 2012 will be joined by a 24-hour channel in the U.S. Since its domestic launch, Disney Junior ratings have grown by double-digit margins across the board, and its launch series, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” is the #1 cable series among Boys 2-5 and is on track to be Disney Channel’s #1 preschool series ever in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49.
Ms. Lightcap joined The Walt Disney Company in 2000 and, prior to her current role, served in the dual roles of senior vice president, Programming and Creative Affairs, Disney Channels Latin America / Disney Media Networks, and Chief Marketing Officer, The Walt Disney Company, Latin America.
In her role as senior vice president of Programming and Creative Affairs, Disney Media Networks, Latin America, she was responsible for programming, production, on-air, marketing, research and publicity for Disney Channel, Disney XD and Playhouse Disney Channels (now known as Disney Junior) in the region. As Chief Marketing Officer for The Walt Disney Company Latin America, Ms. Lightcap led the integration of Disney’s marketing departments into one organization, and was responsible for the strategic marketing direction for all Disney’s lines of business in the region, as well as Corporate Brand and Franchise Management, Corporate Communications and Corporate Responsibility.
Prior to joining Disney, Ms. Lightcap served as vice president, Programming, Sales and Marketing, Sky Latin America Partners. Before Sky, she worked for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Fox Latin American Channel, serving ultimately as executive director, Latin America.
GARY MARSH PROMOTED TO PRESIDENT AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER,
DISNEY CHANNELS WORLDWIDE
Burbank, CA, September 14, 2011 . . . The Disney/ABC Television Group today announced that Gary Marsh has been promoted to president, Disney Channels Worldwide. He will also continue in his role as the Channel’s Chief Creative Officer. This announcement follows the decision by Carolina Lightcap to step down as president, Disney Channels Worldwide.
In this new position, Mr. Marsh will have full creative oversight and leadership responsibility for Disney’s successful and burgeoning global kids TV business, comprising more than 100 kid-driven, family inclusive entertainment channels and feeds which are available in 169 countries and 35 languages. The portfolio spans Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Disney Cinemagic and Hungama brands; the Radio Disney broadcast and satellite radio network and station group; as well as subscription video-on-demand and the content-rich broadband websites DisneyChannel.com, DisneyJunior.com, DisneyXD.com and RadioDisney.com. Previously, Mr. Marsh had been president, Entertainment and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.
In commenting on Mr. Marsh and his promotion, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group said, “Gary Marsh has been the driving creative force behind Disney Channels remarkable growth for the past 15 plus years, responsible for some of the most iconic and successful franchises in our history, including ‘Hannah Montana,’ ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ ‘High School Musical,’ ‘Phineas and Ferb,’ ‘That’s So Raven,’ ‘Shake It Up’ and many others.” She continued, “The evolution and growth of our Disney Channels business will come from the alignment of this great creative with strong distribution, in all its myriad forms. There is no one better suited to manage this than Gary. He not only understands the zeitgeist of kids’ culture, he helped create it. Our business couldn’t be in better hands.”
Said Mr. Marsh: “The strength of Disney Channels Worldwide – and its heart – has always been the dynamic and dedicated people who make the magic and put it into the homes and hands of kids and families around the world. These talented people who share my passion for creative excellence are the reason I’ve loved working here. And it’s also why I’m excited by this expanded opportunity to lead this team in creating and delivering content, globally, which entertains, uplifts and inspires.”
As president, Entertainment, and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, Mr. Marsh managed the worldwide Programming Strategy, Planning and Acquisitions teams, Original Movies, Original Series, Casting, Talent Relations and Production for Disney Channel U.S. and Disney XD, overseeing the development and production of a slate of original programming for Disney Channels Worldwide – both live action and animated – with original programming teams based in Burbank, London and Japan. In addition, he oversaw the development and production arms of Disney Television Animation.
His track record in developing cultural phenomena like “High School Musical,” “Hannah Montana,” “Phineas and Ferb” and “Lizzie McGuire” has been a hallmark of his success. In addition to spearheading these blockbuster Disney Channel Original Movie and Original Series franchises, he has also overseen Disney Junior programming, which includes break-out hits “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Handy Manny.”
Throughout his tenure at Disney Channel, Mr. Marsh has developed projects that have garnered the highest industry and critical acclaim, including multiple Emmys and Humanitas Prizes, plus Peabody, NAMIC, Gabriel, Women in Film, Parents’ Choice and New York International Film and Television Festival Awards. He is the co-creator and co-chair of City of Hope’s annual Concert for Hope, and was also a 2005 Honoree of Girls Incorporated, which recognizes industry leaders who are excellent role models for girls and young women.
Prior to joining Disney Channel, Mr. Marsh was director of Movies and Miniseries at Columbia Pictures Television. He was previously vice president, the Garth Group, a consulting firm in New York City, where he specialized in creating media for political campaigns.