Walt Disney Company SEA hires GM for retail, licensing

Mark Coleman has been promoted as general manager of retail and licensing, reporting to Robert Gilby, managing director at The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia.

Started with Disney in 1994, Coleman has worked in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and most recently in Los Angeles, overseeing Disney Consumer Products emerging markets business. 

The new role will see Coleman tapping into the significant growth in modern retail across the region, leading the integrated retail and licensing organisation as well as overseeing all retail and licensing relationships including the publishing business.

Coleman will focus on developing innovative, market-relevant products through extensive global and local licensee relationships, expanding key retail partnership and marketing activities, and delivering increased reach at retail. 

He is also tasked to drive growth across all key franchise and character groups such as Disney Classic & Disney Baby, Disney Live Action Films, Disney & Pixar Animated Films, Marvel, Disney Princesses & Fairies, and Media Networks & Games.

“Mark brings enormous industry experience with Disney across Asia and many other international markets,” Gilby said. “He will build a best-in-class organisation to work with our partners in the region to produce cohesive strategies that create new and innovative opportunities and drive incremental growth in the consumer business here.”

Last week, Walt Disney Company made three senior appointments, including Amit Malhotra as the general manager of media distribution and sales, Natasha Malhotra as general manager of branded media and content, and Nicholas Wodtke as vice-president of strategy and business development.