Walt Disney announced on Thursday that Paul Roeder, a 25-year veteran of the company, will assume the role of senior executive vice president and chief communications officer effective March 19. In his new position Roeder will be responsible for Disney’s worldwide communications and serve as the company’s lead spokesperson, reporting directly to incoming chief executive Josh D’Amaro.
Roeder joins the corporate communications leadership team amid a broader reshaping of Disney’s top ranks following D’Amaro’s recent elevation to CEO, a change that succeeded former chief executive Bob Iger last month. The appointment is one of several adjustments at the senior level as the company transitions to its next executive chapter.
Most recently, Roeder served as executive vice president of communications for Disney Entertainment Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and International. His tenure at Disney began in 2001 when he joined the ABC communications team. Since 2010 he has led communications for Disney Studios, a span that included major integration work during the acquisitions of Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox.
Commenting on the hire, D’Amaro said: "He has a passion for Disney and a deep understanding of what it stands for, and I know he’ll do an outstanding job leading our exceptional Communications teams worldwide." The statement frames Roeder as a trusted internal choice to steward Disney’s global messaging during the leadership transition.
The appointment formalizes Roeder’s shift from studio-focused communications to a corporate role with responsibility across Disney’s portfolio. The effective date of March 19 gives a clear starting point for the communications leadership changeover as D’Amaro takes on his new responsibilities.
The announcement was accompanied in the original release by promotional material referencing an AI-driven stock evaluation product. That promotional segment described automated analysis of DIS using financial metrics and suggested the product identifies stocks for potential investment strategies. This rewritten report preserves the factual content of the company announcement and the accompanying promotional reference without adding further claims.
Key points
- Paul Roeder will become senior executive vice president and chief communications officer at Disney, effective March 19.
- Roeder is a 25-year Disney employee who previously led communications for Disney Studios and served as EVP for Communications, Disney Entertainment Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and International.
- The appointment follows a recent leadership reshuffle at Disney after Josh D’Amaro was named CEO, succeeding Bob Iger.
Risks and uncertainties
- Ongoing top-level changes at Disney introduce uncertainty about long-term leadership dynamics and strategic priorities for the company - relevant to media and entertainment sectors.
- The transition in communications leadership may affect messaging consistency while Roeder moves from studio-focused to company-wide responsibilities - relevant to investor relations and corporate communications.
- The appointment takes effect March 19, leaving a short interim period before Roeder officially assumes the role.