Paul Candland Named President, The Walt Disney Company, Asia; Stanley Cheung Promoted to Chairman, TWDC Greater China
July 28 2014 - 9:00PM
Business Wire
Underscoring the growing importance of Asia to The Walt Disney
Company’s global growth strategy, Paul Candland has been named to
the newly created position of president, The Walt Disney Company,
Asia, with oversight of Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Greater
China. Mr. Candland, a 16-year Disney veteran and president of Walt
Disney Japan, will be responsible for driving the company’s
strategy and coordinating all of its business efforts in Asia. He
will report directly to Andy Bird, chairman Walt Disney
International. Rob Gilby, managing director, TWDC South East Asia,
will report to Mr. Candland.
In addition, Stanley Cheung, managing director of TWDC Greater
China, has been promoted to chairman of TWDC Greater China,
reporting to Mr. Bird. Senior vice president Luke Kang will assume
Mr. Cheung’s former role as managing director of TWDC Greater
China. Mr. Kang will report to both Mr. Cheung and Mr. Candland and
will have direct oversight of Disney’s businesses in Greater China,
excluding Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort,
which report to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom
Staggs.
“Asia is a region of incredible growth and great promise for
Disney, and these management changes are designed to ensure we
maximize our opportunities there today and in the future,” said
Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive of The Walt Disney
Company. “This new structure will bring greater focus and the
ability to share best practices across businesses and countries as
we grow strategically in Asian markets.”
“Under Paul's leadership, we will be able to accelerate our
businesses in Greater China, Japan, Korea and South East Asia,” Mr.
Bird said. “He has done an amazing job of expanding our business in
Japan, delivering double-digit growth across all business segments,
particularly with the success of Disney Mobile, Gaming, Disney
Stores and Disney Consumer Products, and the launch of DLife, our
channel serving young adult female audiences.”
Mr. Candland joined Disney in 1998 as representative director
and general manager of Disney Store Japan, overseeing operations at
some 80 locations. In 2002, he became managing director of Walt
Disney Television International (Japan), and was responsible for
launching both the Disney Channel and Toon Disney in Japan. In 2007
he was named president of TWDC Japan. Prior to joining Disney, Mr.
Candland worked at Pepsi-Cola Co. for more than 10 years. In 1994
he was named president of Okinawa Pepsi-Cola, and subsequently
served as the Japan representative for Pepsi-Cola International.
Mr. Candland holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Brigham
Young University and an MBA from Pennsylvania State University.
In announcing the promotions of Mr. Cheung and Mr. Kang in
Greater China, Mr. Bird pointed to the rapid growth of Disney’s
business in the region. “It is my belief that Greater China will
become our biggest international market in the coming years. Today,
China is one of our biggest markets for the Studio, and we have a
well-established Disney Consumer Products and TV distribution
business. The rapid emergence of mobile and digital platforms
provides even more opportunities for us, and construction is
underway for the largest Disney Store in the world and, of course,
Shanghai Disney Resort.” Mr. Bird added, “With all of this in mind,
and considering the unique manner of doing business in China, I
decided to support Stanley's leadership and vision with Luke's
proven ability to effectively manage our businesses.”
Mr. Cheung was named managing director of TWDC China in 2004,
and has been responsible for driving the company’s strategy and
coordinating its business efforts in China. He joined Disney from
Johnson & Johnson (China) Ltd., where he served as managing
director. From 1996-2001, Mr. Cheung worked for Pillsbury Co. in
Shanghai, serving in a series of positions culminating in managing
director, North Asia. Previously, Mr. Cheung worked for the China
division of Pepsi-Cola International. He started his career with
Proctor & Gamble. Mr. Cheung holds a bachelor’s degree in
business administration from The Chinese University of Hong Kong
and an MBA from Indiana University.
Mr. Kang joined Disney in 2011 as senior vice president and
managing director of The Walt Disney Company (Korea) Ltd. Prior to
Disney, Mr. Kang was chief operating officer at Live 365, an
internet radio company based in Silicon Valley. He also held
various senior management roles at MTV Networks in Asia Pacific,
including senior vice president of strategy and business
development for Asia Pacific, head of Asia Pacific digital media,
and managing director of Korea. From 1996 to 2000 he worked as a
management consultant for Monitor Group Asia Pacific Region, and he
was an analyst at the Ministry of Finance & Economy of the
Republic of Korea from 1995 to 1996. Mr. Kang holds a master’s
degree in management as a Sloan Fellow from Stanford University
Graduate School of Business, and a B.A. from the University of
Michigan.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), together with its
subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international
entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments:
media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer
products and interactive. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual
revenues of $45 billion in its Fiscal Year 2013.
The Walt Disney CompanyZenia MuchaCorporate
Communications818-560-5300orMariam SughayerCorporate
Communications818-560-3117
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