The Walt Disney Co. has named Angela Jain head of content, Disney+ EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), a newly created role. She will join the entertainment giant in September from ITV Studios, where she has most recently served as director of unscripted, U.K. and was known for, among other things, relaunching Love Island for ITV in 2015.
“The newly created role comes on the heels of Disney’s recent earnings call, where the company emphasized the importance of international markets and its investment in local originals that complement its global slate as key pillars for growing its streaming business,” Disney said. “Across Europe, Disney+ will increase its local originals output over the next four years, further expanding the breadth and quality of the content offering.”
Jain will lead Disney’s EMEA content strategy for original productions on Disney+, including commissioning, production management, business affairs and Disney+ originals’ branded acquisitions. She will report to Eric Schrier, president, Disney Television Studios and Global Original Television Strategy.
“Angela’s appointment to lead original content in EMEA is an essential piece of our ambitious plan to grow our local slate for Disney,” Schrier said. “Her expertise and experience will help build on our recent success and elevate our storytelling, bringing customers more local stories that complement our incomparable movies and shows from our global studios.”
Jain called her new role “an irresistible opportunity,” emphasizing: “The growth and vision to expand original productions is invigorating, and I look forward to collaborating with the very best creative talent to produce shows of real excellence and ambition for Disney+.”
Local Disney productions in EMEA include Rivals, The Stolen Girl, bref.2, This Is Not Hollywood, and Invisible. These four releases over the past year are all in the top five EMEA originals of all time on Disney+.
“Local originals have a strong pipeline ahead, with upcoming titles including The Lost Station Girls, Alice and Steve, and Call My Agent Berlin,” the company said. Upcoming unscripted titles include Sneaker Wars: Adidas Vs Puma and Italia’s Got Talent season 2.
About her most recent employer, Jain said: “I’m grateful to ITV after so many wonderful and successful years. I will miss enormously the most incredible and dedicated production teams, colleagues and friends from whom I have learned so much and to whom I would like to say a heartfelt thank you.”
Julian Bellamy, managing director, ITV Studios, sang her praises. “Angela has been a fantastic leader in ITV Studios for eight years, with a remit that’s spanned some of the U.K.’s biggest and best factual and entertainment shows including I’m a Celebrity, Love Island, The Chase, The Voice, 24 Hours in A&E, Squid Game: The Challenge and many, many others,” he said. “Angela’s sure-footed editorial judgement, creative eye, and commitment have played a key role in the success of ITV Studios. We’ll all miss her hugely, but really look forward to working with her at Disney.”
Jain has TV industry experience working across channel management, commissioning, and production. At ITV, she held such roles as controller of digital channels and acquisitions. As controller of ITV2, she commissioned the likes of Love Island, Plebs, The Big Reunion, and Timewasters. “Whilst controller at E4, she commissioned iconic shows, such as The Inbetweeners, Misfits, and Dead Set, alongside acquiring popular series like Glee and The Big Bang Theory,” Disney said.
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