Disney Names Consumer Products Chief

[Oglet]

Disney said on Friday that it would re-organize its approach to mass-market retailers and named a movie distribution executive to lead the effort.

Robert Chapek, formerly president of distribution for Walt Disney Studios, will take over as president of Disney Consumer Products, succeeding Andrew P. Mooney, who resigned as chairman of that division on Tuesday. Mr. Chapek's first chore will involve working with Disney's various units to create a more consolidated way of interacting with retailers like Wal-Mart.

Disney currently handles merchandising in a decentralized fashion. The company's movie studio controls DVD sales. Disney Consumer Products manages apparel, toys and publishing. Another group oversees packaged video games. That means three different Disney teams typically interface with Wal-Mart and other big box retailers. Disney's goal is to increase efficiency — and its clout — by having one point of contact: Mr. Chapek.
"As the retail market becomes more centralized, it is important to provide the consumer with an array of choices in a seamless, coordinated way," Robert A. Iger, Disney's chief executive, said in a statement.

Disney also said that Alan Bergman, president of Walt Disney Studios, would take over some of Mr. Chapek's former duties, including the distribution of films into theaters around the world.



By Brooks Barnes
New York Times

 

[deakam]

Doesn't matter who is in charge. It is still all just junk made in China. In my opinion America's Iconic company should make something in America. It is just sad to me that sooooo many namebrands---including Disney---have become nothing more than distributors for Chinese manufacturers. I'll spend my money on going to the parks, not on overpriced crappy foreign products.