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Disney Visionary Lerner's Legacy: Storytelling Over Tech
21 Dec
Summary
- Lerner championed content quality, emphasizing storytelling over technology.
- He oversaw Disney's expansion in Latin America and Europe.
- Lerner played a key role in Disney+'s streaming pivot and local content.
Diego Lerner, a transformative leader at The Walt Disney Company, died recently at the age of 71. For almost 35 years, Lerner was instrumental in shaping Disney's international operations, overseeing its significant rollout in Latin America and later in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. His leadership navigated the company through major industry shifts, from the expansion of pay TV to the strategic pivot towards streaming services like Disney+.
Lerner's philosophy centered on the power of content, famously stating that "quality of content" and "scripts are still king." This approach guided his efforts in launching Disney Channel, Jetix, and Playhouse Disney across Latin America, and later driving "continuous improvement in consumer affinity" in Europe. He was also a proponent of local production, a strategy that became crucial for Disney+'s global success.
His influence extended to securing rights for Argentina's soccer league, a complex negotiation that highlighted his entrepreneurial spirit and political acumen. Lerner's legacy at Disney is one of strategic vision, a deep understanding of storytelling, and an immeasurable contribution to the company's global storytelling legacy.
