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John Rood Returns to Disney as Senior Vice President, Marketing, Disney Channels Worldwide

Sep 21, 2016  •  Post A Comment

Press release from Disney, Sept. 20, 2016:

John Rood, a marketing executive widely regarded for his creative and strategic innovation across television, digital, media planning and consumer products, has been named senior vice president, Marketing, Disney Channels Worldwide. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, to whom Rood will report.

Rood’s appointment is effective immediately.

Marsh said, “John Rood is a maker and a builder, with a rare combination of creative and strategic leadership skills and an innate understanding of the Disney brand. He has a unique capacity to transform how large teams address viewers’ evolving needs in a complex, multi-platform portfolio.”

Rood succeeds Richard Loomis who, after nine years with Disney Channel, has decided to step down next month to pursue other ventures. Under Loomis’ leadership, the Disney Channel Marketing team received numerous Emmy Awards, PromaxBDA Awards, CTAM Mark Awards and Telly Awards.

Regarding Loomis, who joined Disney Channels in 2007 and was promoted to senior vice president and chief marketing officer in 2012, Marsh said, “Richard has made enormous contributions to Disney Channels Worldwide during his tenure. As an important and highly respected member of my senior team, his leadership, creativity and strategic expertise have been invaluable to me. Although I hoped to have the opportunity to work with him through the next phase of our growth, I respect his decision, will miss his wonderfully collegial approach and wish him every success in the future.”

Loomis said, “From ‘High School Musical 2’ and ‘Descendants’ to the launch of Disney XD and Disney Junior, it’s been an amazing ride covering a lot of ground in the U.S. and all around the world, and for that I feel very proud. I also feel that it’s the right time to explore the next chapter that awaits me and between now and the next four weeks, will transition with my good friend and successor John Rood who will have the support of a truly outstanding marketing and creative team.”

Rood said, “I am honored to return to Disney Channel and Gary Marsh. I have such confidence in these people and these properties and these partners. I’m grateful to my friend Richard Loomis, who has built three world-class channel brands and upon whom we’ll keep calling for sage marketing advice. These are exciting times for us; the platforms may be in flux, but the keys to Kids TV engagement are the same as ever: quality storytelling, franchise affinity and heart. Advantage us.”

In his new role, Rood will be responsible for guiding the creative marketing vision, on-channel promotion and off-channel marketing for the leading entertainment portfolio serving kids and families. Comprised of Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior, the portfolio has reached more viewers than any other kid TV competitor, 2016 to date.

Rood will also oversee creative marketing support for the Disney Media Sales and Marketing team and work closely with Programming and Franchise Management as well as the Affiliate Sales and Marketing and Research groups, and the Radio Disney national network. In addition to overseeing the Channel Marketing teams for each brand, Rood will lead the Off Air design, Marketing Strategy and Analytics and Marketing Operations functions.

With extensive experience in brand and franchise marketing, Rood has been consulting exclusively with Disney Channels Worldwide for the past 10 months, working across the portfolio to develop strategies for evolving the organization and its short-form content and social media.

From 2010-14, he was executive vice president, DC Entertainment, a division charged with maximizing DC Comics across Warner Bros. Inc. including its Theatrical, Television, Consumer Products, Interactive and Home Entertainment businesses. He also oversaw DC Entertainment’s Sales and Marketing and co-managed worldwide Publishing and its launch into digital publishing including “The New 52” same-day digital comics. During his tenure, he guided new projects including logo redesign, website redesign, social media strategy, CRM program development, web series production, ad sales revamp, corporate charity program development, and analytics including consumer segmentation research.

Rood was with The Walt Disney Company from 2000-10, most recently as senior vice president, Marketing, ABC Family from 2004-10. In that role, he led the channel’s brand strategy and marketing, media plans, social media, promotions, synergy, sales support and multichannel windowing.

From 2000-04, he was vice president, Marketing, Disney|ABC Television Group, and was responsible for driving the brand strategy and marketing campaigns for Disney Channel, Toon Disney and SOAPNet. He also led the rebranding projects for Disney Channel and Jetix/Fox Kids Channels worldwide.

He first came to Disney in 2000, after devoting seven years at Warner Bros. Inc. in roles of increasing responsibility, culminating with director of Promotions, for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Earlier in his career, he worked at Equity Marketing and Leo Burnett Company.

Rood earned a Masters of Business Administration from The University of Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications and English from The University of Nebraska. He resides with his family in Los Angeles.

[Source: NPower, Total Day, 6-minute qualifier]

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