Paul Candland Promoted to President of Walt Disney Company Asia

Reflecting the growing importance of the Asian market, The Walt Disney Company has named Paul Candland to the newly created position of president of The Walt Disney Company, Asia. A 16-year Disney veteran who currently serves as president of Walt Disney Japan, Candland will have oversight of Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and Greater China and be responsible for driving the company’s strategy and coordinating all of its business efforts in Asia. He will report directly to Andy Bird, chairman of Walt Disney International. Rob Gilby, managing director of TWDC South East Asia, will report to Candland.

Additionally, Stanley Cheung, managing director of TWDC Greater China, has been promoted to chairman of TWDC Greater China, reporting to Bird. Senior vp Luke Kang will assume Cheung’s former role as managing director of TWDC Greater China; he will report to both Cheung and Candland and will have direct oversight of Disney’s businesses in Greater China, excluding Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which report to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Tom Staggs.

Related Stories

Movies

BAFTA Sets 2024 Film Awards Date, Keeping Ceremony in Traditional February Slot

Movies

Former China Film Group Boss to Serve as Jury Head of Asian World Film Festival

PHOTOS Inside Disney’s L.A. Screenings Celebration

“Asia is a region of incredible growth and great promise for Disney, and these management changes are designed to ensure we maximize our opportunities there today and in the future,” Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said. “This new structure will bring greater focus and the ability to share best practices across businesses and countries as we grow strategically in Asian markets.”

“Under Paul’s leadership, we will be able to accelerate our businesses in Greater China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia,” Bird said. “He has done an amazing job of expanding our business in Japan, delivering double-digit growth across all business segments, particularly with the success of Disney Mobile, Gaming, Disney Stores and Disney Consumer Products, and the launch of DLife, our channel serving young adult female audiences.”

Candland joined Disney in 1998 as representative director and general manager of Disney Store Japan, overseeing operations at some 80 locations. In 2002, he became managing director of Walt Disney Television International (Japan), and was responsible for launching both the Disney Channel and Toon Disney in Japan. In 2007, he was named president of TWDC Japan. Prior to joining Disney, Candland worked at Pepsi-Cola Co. for more than 10 years.

PHOTOS ‘Maleficent’: Inside the Costumes of Angelina Jolie’s Disney Villain

In announcing the promotions of  Cheung and Kang in Greater China, Bird said, “It is my belief that Greater China will become our biggest international market in the coming years. Today, China is one of our biggest markets for the studio, and we have a well-established Disney Consumer Products and TV distribution business. The rapid emergence of mobile and digital platforms provides even more opportunities for us, and construction is underway for the largest Disney Store in the world and, of course, Shanghai Disney Resort.”

Cheung was named managing director of TWDC China in 2004. He joined Disney from Johnson & Johnson (China) Ltd., where he served as managing director. From 1996 to 2001, he worked for Pillsbury Co. in Shanghai, serving in a series of positions culminating in managing director, North Asia. Previously, Mr. Cheung worked for the China division of Pepsi-Cola International, and he started his career with Proctor & Gamble.

Kang joined Disney in 2011 as senior vp and managing director of The Walt Disney Company (Korea). Prior to Disney, he was COO at Live 365, an internet radio company based in Silicon Valley. He also held various senior management roles at MTV Networks in Asia Pacific, including senior vp strategy and business development for Asia Pacific, head of Asia Pacific digital media, and managing director of Korea.