The Walt Disney Company Names Geoff Morrell as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
December 07 2021 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
Morrell, head of Communications and Advocacy
at the global energy company bp, will oversee Disney’s Corporate
Communications, Global Public Policy, Government Relations,
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental, Social and
Governance teams
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has named Geoff Morrell to
the newly created position of Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, with
oversight of the entertainment company’s Corporate Communications,
Global Public Policy, Government Relations, Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
teams, it was announced today by Bob Chapek, Disney’s Chief
Executive Officer. Mr. Morrell, who most recently has served as
Executive Vice President, Communications and Advocacy at the global
energy company bp, and was formerly Pentagon Press Secretary and a
White House correspondent for ABC News, will assume his new role on
January 24, 2022 and report directly to Mr. Chapek.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211207005771/en/
Geoff Morrell (Photo: Business Wire)
“In this unique time of industry disruption and social change,
it is more important than ever that our consumers, communities,
employees, and shareholders understand who we are and what we stand
for,” Mr. Chapek said. “At the same time, the spheres of
communications, corporate governance, social responsibility,
government relations and public policy are increasingly
interconnected and require a focused, coordinated approach. Geoff
is a seasoned, insightful and accomplished public affairs officer,
and I am delighted to appoint him to this new role, where he will
build on Disney’s already strong reputation.”
“This is a homecoming of sorts. After four years in government
and 10 years with bp, I am thrilled to be coming back to the
company where I began my career,” said Mr. Morrell, who will also
hold the title of Senior Executive Vice President. “I started off
as a journalist, but return to take on an exciting new role. I look
forward to helping Bob Chapek and his talented team engage with our
stakeholders around the world. Given the tremendous change underway
in the industry and Bob’s ambitious plans for Disney, it is
imperative that we proactively share the story of Disney’s
evolution. Few companies are as beloved as Disney, and I am
committed to doing everything I can to make sure it remains that
way.”
Under the new leadership structure, Disney’s head of Corporate
Social Responsibility will report to both Mr. Morrell and Mr.
Chapek. A new head of Corporate Communications will be named
following Mr. Morrell’s arrival. As previously announced last July,
Zenia Mucha, Disney’s Senior Executive Vice President and Chief
Communications Officer, and Alan Braverman, Senior Executive Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary, will be retiring from the
Company shortly after year-end following nearly two decades in
their respective roles.
Mr. Morrell assumed his latest role at bp in 2020, overseeing
the company’s global communications, government relations and
advocacy, and prior to that he was bp’s Group Head of
Communications & External Affairs from 2017. Mr. Morrell joined
bp in 2011 as Vice President, U.S. Communications and in 2013
became Senior Vice President, U.S. Communications & External
Affairs.
From 2007 to 2011, Mr. Morrell served as Pentagon Press
Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public
Affairs, serving as the chief spokesman for Defense Secretary
Robert M. Gates and the U.S. military. He was appointed by
President George W. Bush and continued to serve under President
Barack Obama, and for his service to both administrations he was
awarded the Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest
honor the Department of Defense can give to a political
appointee.
Before entering public service, Mr. Morrell was a White House
correspondent for ABC News from 2004 to 2007; he first joined the
network in 2000. Mr. Morrell began his reporting career in 1992 at
KATV-TV in Little Rock, Ark., covering the presidential campaign of
Bill Clinton. He later served as a reporter at WSET-TV in
Lynchburg, Va. from 1994 to 1995, at KSAZ-TV in Phoenix from 1995
to 1996, and at WBBM-TV in Chicago from 1996 to 2000.
Mr. Morrell holds a Master’s Degree in journalism from Columbia
University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Georgetown University.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211207005771/en/
Zenia Mucha Corporate Communications (818) 560-5300
David Jefferson Corporate Communications (818) 560-4832
Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024