Disney/ABC Cable Networks Ramps Up Marketing Team; Adam Sanderson Named Senior Vice President.

Entertainment Editors & Television Writers

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 28, 2000

With the growth and success of Disney Channel and Toon Disney, as well as the recent launch of SoapNet, Disney/ABC Cable Networks has expanded its marketing team by naming Adam Sanderson senior vice president of marketing, announced Eleo Hensleigh, executive vice president, marketing, Disney/ABC Cable Networks, to whom Sanderson will report.

Additional appointments made in the group's marketing department include John Rood as vice president, marketing; Hope Wintner as executive director of brand management; David Watson as director, online; and Todd Hatley as director of promotions.

"Adam will be applying his extensive marketing and promotions experience to our growing brand initiatives," said Hensleigh. "His incredible energy, creativity and breadth of knowledge make him ideal to lead his team and our marketing efforts."

In his new role, Sanderson will oversee the marketing activities for Disney/ABC Cable Networks' wholly owned channels including Disney Channel, Toon Disney and the recently launched SoapNet. This includes consumer and trade advertising, national and local promotions, event marketing, online, brand management and synergy efforts within The Walt Disney Co.

Previously, Sanderson served as vice president of marketing for Disney Channel and was primarily responsible for creating consumer and trade promotions and event marketing. Disney Channel's PremEars in the Park and Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE, two signature marketing events for the network, were created, developed and implemented under Sanderson's direction. He also was responsible for the development and maintenance of DisneyChannel.com and ToonDisney.com.

Prior to joining Disney Channel in 1997, Sanderson was vice president of Promotion Marketing for FX Networks Inc., where he was responsible for overseeing all consumer and affiliate promotions for both FX and FXM: Movies from Fox. Before joining FX, Sanderson was promotion director at Conde Nast Traveler in New York, responsible for creating sales promotions for the magazine. Previously, he was president of Sanderson Associates, an entertainment marketing firm that produced special events and concerts. He also worked for Affiliate Artists, a non-profit performance arts organization, serving as director of marketing and development.

Sanderson was named PROMAX's Cable Promotion Executive of the Year in 1996.

As vice president of marketing for Disney/ABC Cable Networks, Rood will oversee the positioning and execution of strategic marketing plans for Disney Channel, Toon Disney and SoapNet. Rood will oversee the day-to-day management of advertising and promotions teams. Rood will report to Sanderson.

Immediately prior to joining Disney/ABC Cable Networks, Rood was director, promotions and branded foods, for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Previously, he held positions at Equity Marketing and Leo Burnett Co. Inc., respectively, as senior director and senior account executive. Rood earned a bachelor of arts degree in speech communications and English from The University of Nebraska. He received a master's degree in business administration from The University of Texas.

In her new position as executive director, brand management, Disney/ABC Cable Networks, Wintner will be responsible for the brand stewardship of the networks' developing franchises such as Playhouse Disney and Disney Channel Original Movies. She will work to develop specific marketing plans around key initiatives within the Disney/ABC Cable Network group, as well as build external partnerships in order to grow the overall business. Additionally, Wintner manages the development of the division's synergistic programs throughout The Walt Disney Co. Winter will continue to report to Sanderson.

Winter joined Disney in 1998 as director, promotion marketing, for Disney Channel. Prior to that position, she worked for Mattel Toys, where she served as a worldwide product manager for the Barbie brand. She has also held positions at Paramount Pictures as director, national promotions, and at The Coca-Cola Company as manager, national promotions and entertainment. Wintner holds a bachelor of science degree in communication studies from Northwestern University and a master of management degree from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

As director of online for Disney/ABC Cable Networks, Watson is responsible for the supervision of the division's new media department including online programming for such sites as Disney Channel's ZoogDisney.com, ToonDisney.com and SoapNet.com, the companion Web site to SoapNet, the 24-hour soap opera channel recently launched by Disney/ABC Cable Networks. He will also oversee the new media department's efforts related to site development, production, technology and business development. Watson will report to Sanderson.

Prior to joining Disney/ABC Cable Networks, Watson served as a senior producer at Disney Online where he managed Disney Online's Live Events group in the creation and regular production of audio and text based web shows. Previously, Watson served as a senior producer for Media Station where he was responsible for the production of CD-ROM based games for such publishers as Disney, SegaSoft and Mattel. Prior to that, he served as a producer and multimedia production manager at Black Book Marketing Group, the publisher of the industry bible of commercial photographers and illustrators. Watson is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications.

In his new position as director, promotions, Hatley will be responsible for developing and executing national and affiliate promotions, including third party tie-ins, national tours, sweepstakes and contests. Hatley will report to Rood.

Previously, Hatley served as senior manger of promotions for Disney Channel. Before joining Disney, he was manager of business development for RPMC, Inc., a marketing agency which specializes in entertainment marketing and travel promotions. He also held various management positions at Horizon Entertainment, Inc. A graduate of Miami University, Hatley holds a bachelor of arts degree in English.

Disney/ABC Cable Networks was established in 1996. Its mission is to create and develop new networks and oversee and manage the portfolio of properties in which The Walt Disney Company has an equity position. This includes Disney Channel (100%), Toon Disney (100%), SoapNet (100%, launching January 24, 2000), Lifetime (50%), Lifetime Movie Network (50%), E! (39.6%), style. (39.6%), A&E (37.5%), The History Channel (37.5%), History Channel International (37.5%) and The Biography Channel (37.5%).