John Landgraf and Simran Sethi simplify Walden’s Reporting Structure
As part of the first major shakeup at Disney’s TV operations since Dana Walden was given responsibility for the company’s TV networks upon Bob Iger’s return as Disney’s CEO, FX chief John Landgraf, and ABC programming director Simran Sethi will take on additional responsibilities.
Both National Geographic and Onyx Collective, a production unit focused on projects originating from communities of color and other underrepresented groups, will fall under Landgraf’s purview as he assumes leadership of both organizations.
On the other hand, Sethi will be in charge of the programming and development at both ABC and Freeform. She will keep reporting to Craig Erwich, who is the president of the Disney Television Group.
As a result, Sethi, who has worked at the cable network before, will be taking over the programming duties from Tara Duncan, who was previously supervising programming for both Onyx Collective and Freeform.
For Sethi, who is now the executive vice president of programming and content strategy for ABC and Freeform, the inclusion of this purview signals a return to a brand that is aimed at a younger demographic and that she helped to build.
She will continue to report to Craig Erwich, the president of Disney TV Group, who also counts Ayo Davis, the president of Disney Branded TV, as one of his direct subordinates.
As a result of the dissolution of DMED, Debra O’Connell, the president of networks and TV business operations, was brought into Walden’s group. There, she will now also be responsible for research, labor relations, and TV business operations in addition to her other responsibilities.
Eric Schrier, who was just promoted to the position of president of Disney Television Studios, will be in charge of overseeing the worldwide original TV strategy and will collaborate closely with Disney’s regional executives.
