Download 300dpi Image 1

As Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios (TWDS), Rich Ross oversees worldwide production, distribution and marketing for the company's range of live-action and feature animated film labels, including Walt Disney, Touchstone, Miramax and Disney/Pixar. In his role, he also heads Disney's theatrical and music groups.

Prior to being named Chairman of TWDS, Ross served as president, Disney Channels Worldwide from 2004-2009, where he managed the unprecedented growth and success of the Company's global kids' TV business, a total of 94 kid-driven, family inclusive entertainment channels and/or channel feeds available in 163 countries in 32 languages. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing Disney Channel, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, GXT, Jetix Radio Disney and Disney XD brands. Under his leadership, the group developed a multiplatform strategy that included subscription video-on-demand and content-rich broadband websites DisneyXD.com and DisneyChannel.com -- which ranks as the #1 kids' entertainment website among Kids 6-14. Ross was also in charge of Radio Disney which, over the past decade, set the radio industry standard for kid and family content.

Prior to his global role as president, Ross was Disney Channel president, Entertainment from 2002-04, general manager and executive vice president, Programming and Production from 1999-2002, and senior vice president, Programming and Production from 1996-99.

Ross' leadership elevated Disney Channels all around the world, most notably Disney Channel U.S., which has been among the top two highest-rated networks in Total Viewers across all basic cable for three years and the #1 primetime television destination for Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 for six and eight years, respectively.

Under his guidance at Disney Channel Worldwide, Playhouse Disney, the critically acclaimed learning-based programming block for preschoolers, and its extension, PlayhouseDisney.com, became the centerpiece for a Company-wide initiative to introduce Disney characters, programs, and products. For example, "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," helped preschoolers with early math skills, while "Handy Mandy," explored aspects of Latin traditions, and helped model understanding and tolerance for different cultures. Additionally, Ross directed the development of the highly successful original programming block for kids aged 6-14, which delivered such global hit series as "Hannah Montana," "Wizards of Waverly Place," "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "The Suite Life on Deck," "That's So Raven," "Phineas and Ferb," "The Proud Family," "Lizzie McGuire" and "Even Stevens."

Among his numerous accomplishments, Ross built the hugely successful Disney Channel Original Movie franchise, which includes the international smash hit "High School Musical." Its sequel, "High School Musical 2," is the highest rated telecast in the history of cable television, posting 18.6 million total viewers. Also counted in the DCOM franchise are basic cable TV's #1 movies among Tweens 9-14 and #1 live action movies among Kids 6-11 for the past eight years – "Luck Of The Irish," "Cadet Kelly," "The Cheetah Girls," "Halloweentown High," "Twitches," "The Cheetah Girls 2" and "High School Musical 2," and "Camp Rock" -- as well as the Humanitas Prize-winning "Miracle in Lane 2" and "The Color of Friendship."

Disney Channels Worldwide programming extends into other lines of business for The Walt Disney Company, including the double-Platinum-selling "Hannah Montana" soundtrack, which made history as the first TV soundtrack to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and the quadruple-Platinum-selling "High School Musical" soundtrack, which was the #1 album of the 2006 in the U.S. "High School Musical" also made history as the first TV movie soundtrack to reach #1 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart and by entering the Billboard Hot 100 chart with an unprecedented nine songs. In the area of home entertainment, "High School Musical" reached #1 on DVD and stands as the industry's fastest-selling TV movie. It proved to be a huge hit all over the world, and went on to generate a bestselling junior novel.

Throughout his career, Ross has held senior level positions in all facets of cable television. Prior to his tenure at Disney Channels Worldwide, he was senior vice president, Development and Production for FX Networks from 1993-96, where he was a member of the executive team that launched the cable network. Among his accomplishments is the critically acclaimed "Breakfast Time," which eventually migrated to the Fox broadcast network.

Before joining FX Networks, Ross was at Nickelodeon from 1986-93, where he served as vice president of Program Enterprises and was involved in all original-programming deals, including those for co-production. In addition he launched "Nick News" with Linda Ellerbee into syndication, Nickelodeon's first syndication success, and was a part of the launch team for Nickelodeon's first international network, Nickelodeon UK.

Ross also built the Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite talent relations department, overseeing network casting and talent booking, which included Nick hits such as "Clarissa Explains It All" and "Hey Dude," and he served as executive producer of Nickelodeon's "Kids' Choice Awards," the first televised kid-voted award show.

Ross is a member of the Board of Directors for Hollywood Radio Television Society (HRTS) and Cable in the Classroom, an organization that represents the cable telecommunications industry's commitment to education -- to improve teaching and learning for children in schools, at home and in their communities.

A native of New York and a 1983 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and English, Ross received his J.D. degree from New York's Fordham University in 1986.

<< Previous page