Disney+ hires Angela Jain for top EMEA job

Angela Jain has been named Disney+’s content supremo in EMEA and will take up the role in September.  

Jain, currently ITV Studios director of UK unscripted, is to become the streamer’s head of content in the region and her appointment is expected to signal a greater push on original content.  

The newly created role is bigger than the one vacated by senior vice-president of original content Liam Keelan at the start of this year  and Jain will report to LA-based Eric Schrier, president of Disney Television Studios and Global Original Television Strategy, who in turn reports to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden. 

Keelan previously reported to EMEA-based Diego Londono, now Disney’s senior vice president & general manager of networks and sports. 

Jain’s remit is to oversee all elements of original productions including commissioning, production management, business affairs and originals’ branded acquisitions. 

Key Disney+ originals from the UK of recent times include Rivals, A Thousand Blows, Renegade Nell and Extraordinary.  

Jain is being replaced at ITVS by MultiStory Media and Twofour chief exec Tim Carter, having spent the last four years with the company. Her role there gave her oversight and responsibility for 11 local labels producing docs, formats and entertainment for ITV’s broadcast arm and many other buyers. ITVS has been at the centre of M&A chatter over recent months. 

Prior to that, Jain was controller of ITV2 and greenlit series including Love Island, Plebs, The Big Reunion and Timewasters, while a previous spell as controller at E4 delivered series including The Inbetweeners, Misfits and Dead Set, with Glee and The Big Bang Theory among its acquisitions. 

Schrier described Jain’s appointment as “an essential piece of our ambitious plan to grow our local slate for Disney+.”  

He added: “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 said: “It is an irresistible opportunity to join Disney, return to commissioning and work alongside Eric Schrier and his talented team.  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+.  
  
“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.”  

ITV Studios managing director Julian Bellamy said: ”Angela’s sure footed editorial judgement, creative eye and commitment has 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.” 

Disney has been talking up the importance of international markets of late and its investment in local originals, with an upcoming slate that includes The Lost Station Girls, Alice and Steve and Call My Agent Berlin.