It appears that it was Mayer’s decision to leave Disney, and that he was not pushed out the doorGETTY IMAGES
Disney Chair of Direct-To-Consumer & Int’l KEVIN MAYER, the exec overseeing ESPN+, is leaving the company to become TikTok CEO, though it appears that it was Mayer’s decision to leave; he was not pushed out the door. While the timing of Mayer’s announcement came as a surprise, the move did not surprise some insiders, who assumed Mayer would leave as soon as he was passed over to be Disney CEO in favor of BOB CHAPEK earlier this year. REBECCA CAMPBELL, a 23-year Disney vet, will replace Mayer as Chair of the direct-to-consumer and international divisions (John Ourand, SBJ Media). In N.Y., Alexandra Steigrad reports Campbell, who most recently served as President of Disneyland Resort, will "report directly to Chapek." She will "oversee the firm’s burgeoning streaming video businesses globally," including Disney+ and ESPN+ (N.Y. POST, 5/19). BLOOMBERG NEWS' Tara Lachapelle writes the streaming-TV business has "never been more important to Walt Disney Co. than it is now, and yet it’s letting its most important streaming executive flee." Though she has a lower profile, Campbell "played a key role in launching Disney+ in Europe." Investors’ eyes "will be on Campbell this year" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/19).
