Marsh Goes Global with Disney

Gary Marsh has been promoted to the newly created global position of Disney Channel Worldwide president of entertainment, officials said Tuesday.

Marsh will be responsible for overseeing development and production of Disney Channel Worldwide’s entire slate of original programming, both live-action and animated, leading the effort to create Disney- and Jetix-branded programming for kids and families around the world.

Disney Channel Worldwide is the global kids’- and family-TV business of The Walt Disney Co., and it is comprised of 24 Disney Channels, six Playhouse Disney Channels, seven Toon Disney channels, 15 Jetix channels and ABC Kids on the ABC Television Network.

Marsh has held the title of Disney Channel’s executive vice president of original programming and production for the past four years, and will continue to oversee original movies, original series, casting, talent relations and production for Disney Channel U.S. and Jetix U.S. In addition, Marsh will continue to report to Richard Ross, president of Disney Channel Worldwide.

In his new role, Marsh will lead the initiative to establish new original-programming teams in London and Japan to maximize content-creation opportunities around the world. He will also add management of the U.S. planning, scheduling and acquisitions teams under the leadership of senior VP of programming Scott Garner, who will report to Marsh.