The Walt Disney Co. is turning to a veteran executive from its ESPN business to lead communications for its ad sales division.
Katina Arnold will become senior vp of Disney advertising communications, working alongside Disney advertising chief Rita Ferro and Disney Entertainment Television and direct-to-consumer executive vp Naomi Bulochnikov.
Arnold joins from ESPN, where she was most recently VP of corporate communications, leading publicity and comms for ESPN’s work with the NFL, NBA, MLB, ESPN Audio, direct-to-consumer streaming platforms and other departments. She previously served in communications roles at High Speed Access Corp. and AT&T Broadband (formerly Tele-Communications, Inc.).
“As Disney Advertising continues to deliver unparalleled value to our clients and audiences across our global business, Katina’s deep expertise and proven ability to elevate brands through thoughtful, strategic communications make her uniquely suited for this role,” Ferro said in a statement. “Her partnership will be critical in driving our next chapter of growth and innovation.”
“Katina is an exceptional leader and a gifted communications strategist,” added Bulochnikov. “Her deep knowledge of our business and the strong relationships she’s built across the company will enable her to hit the ground running, and I’m thrilled to have her leading our talented ad sales communications team at such a pivotal moment.”
“It’s a tremendous privilege to step into this role working alongside Disney advertising sales and to join such a dynamic, forward-thinking team,” said Arnold. “I’m especially grateful to Rita and Naomi for their visionary leadership and trust, and I look forward to collaborating with them to help shape the future of our business. I’m also deeply thankful to my ESPN colleagues for their support over the years. The experience of working across sports and streaming has given me a unique perspective I’m excited to bring to this next chapter.”