David Hulbert, former president, Walt Disney Television International, will be leaving the company in the wake of the Disney-ABC Television Group reorganization its television businesses in the European, Middle Eastern and African territories, promoting of two key executives to oversee this new organizational structure.
John Hardie, former svp/md, branded television, EMEA moves up to evp/md, Branded Television, EMEA while Tom Toumazis, former svp/md, Buena Vista International Television, EMEA advance to evp/md, Buena Vista International Television, EMEA. In addition, Paul Candland, svp/md, WDTV-I, Japan, and Doug Miller, svp/md, Asia-Pacific, WDTV-I and Walt Disney International, will now report directly to Rich Ross, president, Disney Channel Worldwide and Laurie Younger, president, Buena Vista Worldwide Television, on all matters relating to branded television and distribution. Miller continues to report to Andy Bird, president, Walt Disney International, on all other international matters for TWDC.In his new position, Hardie reports directly to Ross, and has day-to-day responsibility, supervision and oversight of all operational aspects of Disney Channel television and branded television properties in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This includes programming, marketing, business affairs and finance.Hardie joined TWDC in August 2001, successfully managed a diverse staff of regional executives and country managing directors, and was responsible for the design and implementation of several new businesses, such as Disney Channel Scandinavia and ABC 1. He was also responsible for the multiplex launch of Playhouse Disney Channel and Toon Disney Channel in Germany and Italy this past fall. Hardie has also overseen a doubling in revenue growth for Branded Television operations and has made Disney Channel number one in audience share among Disney Channel homes in these territories.In making the announcement of Hardies promotion, Ross stated, Since joining our team more than three years ago, John has been instrumental in the growth and leadership of our branded television properties in these important markets. His recent efforts spearheading the creation and launch of ABC 1 in the U.K. typify his unique abilities. This promotion is well timed, and greatly deserved.
Before joining TWDC, Hardie was second-in-command at the ITV Network, responsible for all marketing and commercial activities. This encompassed on-air promotion, advertiser relations, program and rights negotiations, as well as oversight of ITV2, new channel development, Internet and other commercial activities. Hardie was at Procter & Gamble for 14 years, ultimately as European md of P&G's Cosmetics and Toiletries business. While working for P&G he had several complex general management assignments including md of the Ellen Betrix Co., a leading mass cosmetics company in Germany acquired by P&G in 1991. Hardie ran this business in Germany and Austria, with 1,400 employees covering manufacturing, finance, marketing, marketing services and sales.While announcing Toumazis promotion, Younger said, "The Disney-ABC Television Groups distribution and sales efforts in these important territories are second-to-none, and that is due primarily to the hard work and expertise of Tom Toumazis and his management team. During his tenure, Tom has not only strengthened this incredible team, but has also led them to deliver a high quality, market leading service to our clients. Tom also managed the successful integration of the Saban Library and had the insight to introduce a new team, Portfolio Development, created to help build relationships with the producer groups as well as develop local production and format opportunities across EMEA.In his newly expanded role, Toumazis reports directly to Younger, with day-to-day responsibility, supervision and oversight of all distribution, sales, marketing, finance, business affairs and portfolio development for Buena Vista International Television in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Younger will also assume direct oversight of the companys equity investments in these territories, including Super RTL, RTL2, GMTV, and HBO Central Europe, among others.Toumazis played a key role in driving distribution within the German pay TV platform, Premiere, the French pay TV platform, TPS, as well as a multi feature deal with the BBC in the U.K., while realizing the strong potential of the Central, Eastern European and Russian markets. Prior to joining TWDC, Toumazis was md of Emap Advertising, a division of Emap Plc., responsible for an advertising business in excess of $250 million, 300 people, and was extremely successful in creating a high media profile for a diverse advertising business against strong competition in the marketplace. Earlier, Toumazis was responsible for all sales and marketing for Eurosport UK, where he built strong relations with trade and national press, cable operators, advertising agencies and clients, plus saw business revenues more than double during his tenure. Toumazis also worked as head of sales for various U.K. TV stations.In commenting on the restructuring, Anne Sweeney, co-chairman, Media Networks, TWDC and president, Disney-ABC Television Group, said This reorganization is simply the next step in our ongoing efforts to increase effectiveness and streamline communication among our television properties in these important territories. Out-going WDTV-I president Hulbert said My 10 years with Disney have given me the opportunity to work with a wonderful team on a great variety of projects all around the world. I wish the Disney TV team the very best as it implements its new structure. Personally, I shall be taking a short well-earned rest, and will then start looking for entrepreneurial opportunities in the media and software sectors.
During his 10-year tenure with TWDC, Hulbert made many contributions to building Disneys strong and growing television business, such as the launch of 23 Disney Channels, most recently in Japan and India, 92 branded shows in 66 countries and a host of deals with Pay and Free-to-Air TV operators. He also spearheaded equity investments in more than 10 international channels, such as Super RTL in Germany and GMTV and ABC1 in the U.K., plus the forthcoming video-on-demand service on U.K. cable. He leaves WDTV-I as one of the largest, most profitable international TV businesses in the world.Sweeney added, We thank David for his years of service to the company, and wish him well in his future endeavors.
