Adam Sanderson has been named senior vice president, corporate communications of The Walt Disney Company, it was announced today by Zenia Mucha, executive vice president and chief communications officer of The Walt Disney Company. In his new role, Mr. Sanderson will oversee D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, Disney Corporate Creative Resources, and the Walt Disney Archives. He will report directly to Ms. Mucha.
A 17-year Disney veteran, Mr. Sanderson most recently served as senior vice president, franchise management of Disney/ABC Television Group, where he was responsible for launching, building and sustaining franchises for Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney, ABC Family, ABC Entertainment Group, and ABC Daytime. Previously, he served as senior vice president, brand marketing of Disney Channels Worldwide, helping to build High School Musical, Hannah Montana and Disney Junior into franchise successes, and managing all synergy initiatives.
“Our fans and our history are two of the things that distinguish Disney, and Adam will have oversight of both with D23 and the Disney Archives,” Ms. Mucha said. “His experience in brand marketing and franchise management, along with his knowledge of the Company, make him a great choice to lead this talented team.”
In addition to Mr. Sanderson’s appointment, Taye Shuayb has been named director of production, Disney Corporate Creative Resources, reporting directly to Mr. Sanderson. Mr. Shuayb joined Disney last August as manager of production for Disney Corporate Creative Resources, after managing creative services at both Time Warner and Comcast. Jeffrey Epstein will continue to oversee D23 public relations, marketing and fan relations, and Rebecca Cline remains director of The Walt Disney Archives.
Mr. Sanderson joined Disney in 1997 as vice president, marketing of Disney Channel, and went on to become senior vice president, marketing, of the then-named ABC Cable Networks Group. Prior to Disney, he had been vice president of promotion marketing at FX Networks Inc., promotion director at Condé Nast Traveler, and president and founder of Sanderson Associates, an entertainment-marketing firm.
Mr. Sanderson graduated from the University of Albany with a bachelor of arts degree in communications.