Dana Walden

Dana M. Freedman

October 1964 (age 59)

American

Businesswoman

The Walt Disney Company (2019–present)

Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment
UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Saban Free Clinic of Los Angeles

2

Career[edit]

Fox Television Group[edit]

Before her tenure at Disney Entertainment, Walden was previously chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group,[2] which included Fox Broadcasting Company, 20th Century Fox Television, Fox 21 Television Studios, Fox Consumer Products and the syndication supplier, 20th Television.[3][4]

The Walt Disney Company[edit]

Walden was chairman of Entertainment at Walt Disney Television.


On June 9, 2022, Walden replaced Peter Rice as Chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content[5]


Dana Walden was named co-chairman of Disney Entertainment on February 8, 2023, where she is responsible for television and streaming.[6][7] 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.[5]


In April 2024, CNBC reported that Walden was in the running to become Disney's next CEO. [8]

Other board positions[edit]

Walden sits on the board of directors for Live Nation Entertainment[9] and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.[10]

Personal life[edit]

Walden is married and has two children. She lives in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Her grandmother Rose Freedman was a survivor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire who lived to the age of 107.[11]

Awards and accolades[edit]

Walden was named MIPCOM's Personality of the Year in 2015.[12] She has been named "Showman of the Year" by Variety and "Executive of the Year" in 2019 by The Hollywood Reporter.[13][14] In 2021, Walden was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business.[15]