Disney has hired Emily Feingold as executive vice president of communications. The former Netflix communications executive joins the company effective November 9, replacing David Jefferson, who is retiring after 15 years as a senior Disney corporate communications executive.
Feingold will oversee media relations, financial and technology communications, and enterprise editorial, executive and brand messaging. She reports to Paul Roeder, Disney’s senior executive vice president and chief communications officer, who took that title in March after Josh D’Amaro became CEO.
Who Emily Feingold Is
Feingold spent nine years at Netflix, leaving the streamer about five months ago. Before that she was senior vice president of corporate strategy and communications at the private investment firm Andell Inc. and vice president of corporate communications at Ralph Lauren. She started her career at the White House.
Roeder praised the hire in a statement. “Emily is one of the best in the business,” he said. “She combines sharp instincts, broad experience and the trust and respect of colleagues and journalists alike. She’s led communications through some of the most transformative moments in our industry, and she’ll be a tremendous asset as we head into an exciting chapter for Disney.”
David Jefferson Takes Early Retirement
Jefferson accepted Disney’s voluntary early retirement offer and will stay on through the end of November to help with the transition. “David has been a trusted voice and steady hand for Disney through some of the most consequential moments in our history,” Roeder said. He first joined Disney in 2009 at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, left at the end of 2010 and came back in January 2013 in a corporate communications role. Most recently, he served as Disney’s executive vice president of communications. Before Disney, he spent 14 years at The Wall Street Journal, including as deputy Los Angeles bureau chief, and worked as a top editor at Newsweek.
He is not the only longtime communications executive heading out. Shari Rosenblum, who led communications at 20th Television, is also taking early retirement. The departures come during a stretch of cuts across the company, including layoffs at Disney Experiences that hit Imagineering in October.
Feingold’s move also comes as people trade places between the two companies. Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul, who ran communications for Disney’s television group, recently left for a role at Netflix.
The early retirement offer that Jefferson took was extended to many Disney executives earlier this year, and the communications team is one of the groups now being reshaped by it.
For all the Disney news without the clickbait make sure to follow our accounts! Facebook | Twitter | Threads | Instagram | TikTok
