Emily Feingold Heads To Walt Disney As EVP Comms; Succeeds Retiring Studio Vet David Jefferson

Netflix‘s loss is the Walt Disney Company‘s great gain and that’s Emily Feingold, the streamer’s former VP of Comms who has been hired by the Mouse House as their new EVP of Communications.

Feingold succeeds EVP of Comms David Jefferson, who has accepted the company’s voluntary early retirement offer (VERO) after 15 years with the entertainment conglomerate. He departs at the end of the month.

Feingold starts the job on Monday and will report to Paul Roeder, SEVP and Chief Communications Officer. Feingold will oversee media relations, enterprise editorial, and executive, brand, financial and technology communications.

Feingold departed Netflix in June after a nine year run as VP of Comms and Head of Comms for U.S. and Canada. She advised the OTT service’s senior leadership through some of their most significant moments, including its CEO succession, their pursuit of Warner Bros Studios, reporting of viewership data (Netflix paved the way for all streamers) and embrace of theatrical, as well as their expansion into advertising, gaming and live events. Her responsibilities there spanned corporate, financial, product and technology, advertising, content, marketing and consumer products communications.

“Emily is one of the best in the business,” said Roeder. “She combines sharp instincts, broad experience and the trust and respect of colleagues and journalists alike. She’s led communications through some of the most transformative moments in our industry, and she’ll be a tremendous asset as we head into an exciting chapter for Disney.”

Before Netflix, Feingold was SVP of Corporate Strategy and Communications at Andell Inc., a private investment firm, and VP of Corporate Communications at Ralph Lauren. She began her career at the White House.

“David has been a trusted voice and steady hand for Disney through some of the most consequential moments in our history,” said Roeder. “I’ve known him since his days as a reporter, and I’m deeply grateful for his counsel, his friendship and everything he’s done for this company. I wish him every success in what comes next.”

Jefferson is a former journalist who spent two decades reporting and editing for The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek.