Dana Walden

Dana Walden
Born
Dana Michelle Freedman

1964 or 1965 (age 59–60)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationBusinesswoman
EmployerThe Walt Disney Company (2019–present)
TitleCo-Chairman of Disney Entertainment
Board member ofLive Nation Entertainment
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Saban Free Clinic of Los Angeles
Spouse
Matt Walden
​
(m. 1995)​
Children2

Dana Michelle Walden (née Freedman; born 1964 or 1965)[1] is an American businesswoman and the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment. She currently serves as a member of the President's Export Council.[2]

Career

Fox Television Group

Before her tenure at Disney Entertainment, Walden was previously chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group,[3] which included Fox Broadcasting Company, 20th Century Fox Television, Fox 21 Television Studios, Fox Consumer Products and the syndication supplier, 20th Television.[4][5]

The Walt Disney Company

Walden was chairman of Entertainment at Walt Disney Television. On June 9, 2022, Walden replaced Peter Rice as Chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content.[6][7]

Dana Walden was named co-chairman of Disney Entertainment on February 8, 2023, where she is responsible for global streaming and television.[8][9] As part of this role, Walden leads ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Studios (20th Television, ABC Signature, 20th Television Animation and Walt Disney Television Alternative), Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content and Onyx Collective. Under her leadership, The Walt Disney Company earned a record 183 Emmy Award nominations in 2024. [6]

In April 2024, CNBC reported that Walden was in the running to become Disney's next CEO, [10] if chosen, she would be the first female CEO of Disney in its 100-year history.[11]

Other board positions

Walden sits on the board of directors for Live Nation Entertainment[12] and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.[13]

Personal life

Walden married Matt, a business executive, in 1995.[14] They have two daughters.[15] As of 2024, they live in Brentwood, Los Angeles.[1] Her grandmother Rose Freedman, an immigrant from Austria, was a survivor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire who lived to the age of 107.[16] She is of Jewish descent.[17]

Politics

Walden has donated to Democratic Party politicians and hosted fundraising events for the party.[1] She and her husband have also been longtime friends of Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.[1]

President Joe Biden appointed Walden to the President's Export Council and to the primary advisory committee on international trade in 2023.[18]

Awards and accolades

Walden was named MIPCOM's Personality of the Year in 2015.[19] She has been named "Showman of the Year" by Variety and "Executive of the Year" in 2019 by The Hollywood Reporter.[20][21] In 2021, Walden was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business.[22] In 2023, Walden ranked 39th in Forbes Magazine's list of "World's 100 most powerful women".[23] She was ranked 39th on Fortune's list of Most Powerful Women in 2023.[24]

In 2024, the Producers Guild of America announced that Walden will receive the guild's Milestone Award at the 36th Producers Guild of America Awards ceremony.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Grynbaum, Michael W.; Barnes, Brooks (August 11, 2024). "Atop ABC, a Personal Connection to Kamala Harris". The New York Times. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "President's Export Council Members". International Trade Administration. 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  3. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (July 14, 2014). "Dana Walden, Gary Newman Take Over Fox Broadcasting in Restructuring". Variety.
  4. ^ Rose, Lacey (December 5, 2012). "20th TV's Dana Walden On Her Career-Changing 'Jerry Maguire' Moment". The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. ^ "Dana Walden on TV's 'Existential Crisis,' TV Studio Vision and Why She Joined Disney". June 19, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie; Fleming Jr, Mike (June 9, 2022). "Shocker! Peter Rice Fired From Disney; Dana Walden Taking His Post As Chairman, General Entertainment Content". Deadline Hollywood.
  7. ^ "Dana Walden on Verge of Making History as Disney's First Female CEO". Women's Tabloid. April 1, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "Dana Walden". The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  9. ^ White, Peter (February 8, 2023). "Dana Walden & Alan Bergman To Oversee New Disney Entertainment Unit". Deadline. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Sherman, Alex (April 1, 2024). "How Dana Walden could defy critics and become Disney's first female CEO". CNBC.
  11. ^ Sherman, Alex (April 1, 2024). "How Dana Walden could defy critics and become Disney's first female CEO". CNBC. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Variety Staff (June 8, 2018). "Fox's Dana Walden Joins Live Nation Entertainment Board". Variety.
  13. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 8, 2019). "Dana Walden Backs the Cancer Center That Helped Save Her Mother's Life". Variety.
  14. ^ "WEDDINGS;Dana Freedman, Matthew Walden". The New York Times. December 17, 1995. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  15. ^ Brower, Alison (December 8, 2017). "Shonda Rhimes, Dana Walden, More Hollywood Moguls Pose With Their Daughters". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  16. ^ Martin, Douglas (February 17, 2001). "Rose Freedman, Last Survivor of Triangle Fire, Dies at 107". The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  17. ^ Uriel-Beeri, Tamar (September 22, 2022). "Jewish chair Dana Walden shapes creation of Disney content". The Jerusalem Post.
  18. ^ Schwartzel, Erich; Krouse, Sarah (October 26, 2024). "They're Close Friends—and Stars in America's Biggest Succession Dramas". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Stanhope, Kate (May 28, 2015). "Fox Chiefs Dana Walden and Gary Newman Named MIPCOM's Personality of the Year". The Hollywood Reporter.
  20. ^ "Dana Walden". Variety.
  21. ^ "The Hollywood Reporter's 2019 Women in Entertainment Power 100". The Hollywood Reporter. December 11, 2019.
  22. ^ Gardner, Chris (February 7, 2021). "Dana Walden Talks COVID-19 Protocols, Embracing Failure and Promoting Diversity During Harvard Fireside Chat". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "The World's Most Powerful Women 2023". Forbes.
  24. ^ "Most Powerful Women". Fortune.
  25. ^ Stephan, Katcy (November 4, 2024). "Dana Walden to Receive Milestone Award at 2025 Producers Guild Awards". Variety. Retrieved November 27, 2024.