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Andy Bird
Chairman of Walt Disney International
As chairman of Walt Disney International, Andy Bird works with all of Disney’s business unit leaders around the world, coordinating and overseeing growth opportunities for The Walt Disney Company outside the United States. Reporting to CEO, Bob Iger, he is responsible for targeting new businesses, growing and increasing penetration of existing businesses, and leading the development of business and operations in emerging markets.
Prior to becoming Chairman, Bird held the title of President, Walt Disney International. He spent nearly a decade with Time Warner, joining in 1994 as senior vice president and general manager of Turner Entertainment Networks Limited. He rose to president of TBS International in 2000, and became responsible for all TBS broadcasting outside of the continental U.S.
Bird started his career with Piccadilly Radio in Manchester, England, as breakfast show producer. After that, Bird moved to London to join the Virgin Broadcasting Company working at Music Box, a Pan-European music channel. Later, Virgin asked Bird to help launch and program a satellite-delivered national radio service called Radio Radio. Bird became head of programming for the service, producing radio shows for leading comedians and television presenters.
Between 1989 and 1994, Bird held a number of positions in radio and television in Europe, including helping to start a music channel, producing and directing a popular London-based morning TV program, and producing a Saturday morning children’s TV show. In 1992, Bird was tapped by Unique Broadcasting, the largest independent radio production company in the United Kingdom, to start up and operate Unique Television.
A native of the U.K., Bird earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English language and literature from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1985. He is based in Burbank, California.
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