Paul Roeder Promoted To EVP Communications, Disney Entertainment – Studios, International & DTC

Anthony D'Alessandro

31 October 2023 at 2:52 pm·3-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Twenty-two year Disney vet Paul Roeder has been upped to EVP Communications, Disney Entertainment – Studios, International and DTC. He was previously SVP, Communications at Disney Entertainment Studios.

An email to staffers from Kristina Schake, Disney Senior EVP & Chief Communications Officer, recently went around about the news which also announced that Alannah Hall-Smith; SVP Communications and Public Affairs at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, has also been promoted to EVP.

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In his new role, Roeder is responsible for the development and implementation of global communications strategies for Disney’s studio entertainment division and its collection of world-renowned film studios, including Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures, as well as International and Direct-to-Consumer, Disney Theatrical Group, and Disney Music Group.

Roeder oversees various internal and external communications, public relations, and philanthropic efforts, working closely with internal partners, filmmakers and talent, and national and industry trade media outlets. Named to lead Studio Communications in 2010, Roeder has been a key member of the division’s executive team through the acquisitions and integrations of Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox in 2012 and 2019, respectively; the 2019 launch of Disney+, for which The Walt Disney Studios is a key content producer; and the release of some of the biggest blockbusters of all time, including Avatar: The Way of Water, The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame; Black Panther; Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Frozen and Frozen 2; The Incredibles 2; 2019’s The Lion King and 2017’s Beauty and the Beast.

Throughout his tenure at the Burbank, CA studio, Roeder has held positions of increasing responsibility in Disney’s television and corporate divisions. After starting at Disney in the communications group at Disney’s Media Networks, he served as Director of Corporate Communications for The Walt Disney Company. He then moved to the Studios as Director, Global Communications, focused on external relations, and was later named VP of Global Communications for The Walt Disney Studios.

Roeder began his career in entertainment with positions at the William Morris Agency and as an assistant to the EP on the comedy tentpole, Meet the Parents. He’s a DePauw University alum.

Below is Schake’s note to staff:

Communications colleagues –

I’m so pleased to announce that Paul Roeder, Senior Vice President, Communications at Disney Entertainment Studios, and Alannah Hall-Smith, Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, have both been promoted to Executive Vice President.

For Paul, this promotion is a recognition of his outstanding achievements and leadership overseeing communications for our Studios over the past 13 years, and also reflects his newly expanded responsibilities following the addition of our Direct-to-Consumer and International Communications teams to his organization earlier this year.

Similarly, Alannah has skillfully led DPEP’s expansive communications function since 2018, driving incredibly effective communications campaigns while deftly navigating periods of great difficulty, including the impact of the pandemic on our Parks business.

I hope you’ll join me in congratulating Paul and Alannah on their new roles!

Best,
Kristina

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