Disney Hires Sky Finance Boss to Run Disney+ In EMEA

Sky finance boss Karl Holmes is to run Disney+ in EMEA.

Holmes replaces Luke Bradley-Jones, who left to become President of the Economist earlier this year.

Reporting to Jan Koeppen and Joe Earley, he will assume responsibility for the Disney+ business across EMEA, leading the regional team based out of London that has commissioned the likes of Rivals, Extraordinary and The Good Mothers.

Holmes has spent the last decade at Sky in a variety of senior roles, leading teams across functions including marketing, operations, finance, commercial and data. During the last 10 years at Sky, he has been Chief Operating Officer for Europe, Chief Consumer Revenue Officer for the UK as well as Chief Financial Officer for the UK and Ireland and Group Chief Data Officer.

Koeppen said: “Karl Holmes will join Disney+ in EMEA at a time when our DTC 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 added: “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.”

Disney revealed Bradley-Jones was joining the Economist in a President and MD role in February. Holmes’ appointment comes with Disney also seeking a Disney+ content chief in the region following the departure of Liam Keelan.