Karl Holmes to lead Disney+ in EMEA

Sky UK and Ireland CFO Karl Holmes has been appointed to the role of senior VP, direct to consumer (D2C) and general manager at streamer Disney+ for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The hire ends The Mouse House’s search for a successor to Luke Bradley-Jones, the previous general manager for EMEA, who left the company earlier this year.

Starting his new position in January, Holmes will report to both Jan Koeppen, president, The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) EMEA and Joe Earley, president, D2C, Disney Entertainment.

Based in London, Holmes will assume responsibility for the Disney+ D2C business across EMEA, leading the regional team.

He will join from Sky where he has served for 10 years, joining the company in 2014 as director of group integration and financial planning. Holmes was promoted to various positions including CFO, chief operating officer and chief consumer revenue officer.

In his current role as CFO, Sky UK and Ireland and group chief data officer, Holmes leads the company’s UK finance teams with a broad remit which includes financial and operational planning, performance, commercial deals and decision making.

Prior to this tenure at Sky, Holmes was a board member at Indian satellite TV outfit Tata Sky, a joint venture between Tata Group, Temasek and 21st Century Fox. He also served as CFO Europe and Asia for 21st Century Fox.

Holmes’ appointment at Disney+ comes after the summer departure of Bradley-Jones, who left to become president at British weekly newspaper The Economist.

Jan Koeppen, president, TWDC EMEA, said: “Karl Holmes will join Disney+ in EMEA at a time when our D2C business goes from strength to strength across our region.

“Karl has a proven track record for building long-term success in consumer-facing businesses and I know under his leadership the team will flourish.”

Holmes said: “For years I’ve admired Disney’s unique position as a business. As a long-time fan of the brand, I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the company to lead direct-to-consumer in EMEA, after a fantastic decade at Sky.” C21Media