MARC BUHAJ TO LEAD UNSCRIPTED SERIES AND SPECIALS
FOR DISNEY BRANDED TELEVISION
To help drive and diversify the content offering for Disney's streaming and linear platforms, Marc Buhaj has been named vice president, Unscripted Series and Specials, Disney Branded Television. A 14-year veteran of Disney, he will now oversee a nonfiction portfolio spanning documentaries and docu-series, unscripted formats, variety and specials for Disney+, and unscripted series and specials for Disney Channels. He reports to Ayo Davis, executive vice president, Creative Development and Strategy, Disney Branded Television.
In making the announcement, Davis said, "Marc will align our great strengths to support our great opportunities - he is an intuitive leader and strategic thinker with a deep appreciation for creative storytelling, and he now gains a highly effective team with complementary strengths. His knowledge of the most effective ways to reflect and extend our core brands makes him ideally suited to propel their work and meet the needs of our viewers who want quality, innovative and appealing programs wherever they are watching our content."
Reporting to Buhaj for Disney+ general audience content development are Nicole Silveira, director, Unscripted Formats; Marjon Javadi, director, Documentaries and Docu-series; Meghan de Boer, director, Variety and Specials; and Jordan Gilbert, director, Short-Form. He will also expand the unscripted development efforts for kids and families to deliver more original Disney-quality content on Disney Channels and as such, Claire McCabe, vice president, Alternative Programming, will also report to him.
Buhaj said, "I'm excited by the opportunity to work with this talented team to realize the full potential of unscripted storytelling for Disney+ and Disney Channels. The development slate is deep, and we will continue to actively innovate and evolve the genre. Disney+ is the home of the most ambitious unscripted content with family, community and optimism at its core. We look forward to partnering with incredible storytellers around the world to inspire and delight new viewers, as well as fans of our premium brands."
A versatile and well-regarded executive, Buhaj's unique vision helped shape Disney Channels as a global leader in kids and family entertainment. He most recently was senior vice president, Programming, and general manager, Disney XD, and previously led International Original Series and Co-Productions for Disney Television Animation. He also served as vice president, Original Programming, Disney Channels, Europe, Middle East and Africa, overseeing Disney's London-based production hub. He joined Disney in 2007 as senior vice president, Programming, Jetix Europe, after serving as vice president, Programming and Scheduling for Cartoon Network and Boomerang in the U.S., and as executive director, Programming and Acquisitions, for Turner Entertainment Networks in Asia. Earlier in his career, he worked for the Seven Network in his native Australia.
About Disney Branded Television
Disney Branded Television encompasses the creative storytellers and production teams within Disney General Entertainment Content, including Disney Television Animation, who are responsible for Disney-branded television series, movies and other programming spanning live-action, animated and unscripted formats. The group fuels The Walt Disney Company's Disney+ streaming platform and branded networks Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior with content geared toward kids, tweens, teens and families that is imaginative, aspirational and reflective of their world and experiences. Disney Branded Television has created some of the company's most iconic and award-winning programming and franchises, including Emmy(R) Award-winning hit series "Elena of Avalor," "Wizards of Waverly Place" and short-form series "Mickey Mouse"; Peabody Award-winning "Doc McStuffins"; and history-making franchise "High School Musical," spanning 15 years, as well as the blockbuster Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) franchise, comprising over 100 titles. In 2020, Disney Channels collectively garnered an industry-leading nine Daytime Emmys.
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