Kevin Mayer, the former Walt Disney exec who recently resigned as CEO of TikTok amid the threat of a ban over the popular social media app, has been named a senior media adviser for Russian-born billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries.
The move puts Mayer, a former chairman of Disney’s direct-to-consumer business, at a company with significant media and entertainment sector investments. Mayer will focus on Access’ media-related businesses, which includes stakes in Warner Music Group, sports streaming service DAZN and the music and audio streaming service Deezer.
“I look forward to helping Access build on the success of its leading media and entertainment businesses as a key component of my future endeavors. Len has created a company with a variety of impressive assets well positioned to move forward strongly in the years ahead,” Mayer said in a statement.
While at Disney, Mayer ran the direct-to-consumer and international division, including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and Hotstar, among other executive duties. In May 2020, he left Disney in May to become CEO of TikTok, only to resign that post in August.
“Kevin has an unrivalled depth of experience building successful global media and entertainment enterprises. He will bring invaluable knowledge and insight across a range of Access’ investment areas,” Blavatnik said in his own statement.
Among Mayer’s other post-TikTok gigs is possibly joining Skydance investor Redbird Capital.
Mayer until now has spent much of his career working under Bob Iger at Disney, as he spearheaded the entertainment giant’s deals to acquire Marvel, Pixar and 21st Century Fox. When the company turned its attention to the creation of a streaming service, it was Mayer whom Iger tapped to lead the newly created direct-to-consumer and international division.
