A New Chapter for Disney in Africa: The Walt Disney Company Names Rochelle Knock as Vice President & Country Head

Published on 10/23/25 by Craig Smith

In a strategic move signaling expansion in the region, The Walt Disney Company has named Rochelle Knock as Vice President of Disney+ & Networks and Country Head for Sub‑Saharan Africa. She will officially join the team in December 2025.

Knock arrives from her role at Yoco Technologies where she led Customer Value Management, and previously held senior product and customer roles at MultiChoice Group. Her appointment places her at the helm of Disney’s direct‑to‑consumer streaming business in Sub‑Saharan Africa, as well as the company’s family and factual linear networks in the region.

According to senior Disney leadership, her deep experience in customer insight, product management and digital commerce offers a strong foundation for the company’s growth ambitions across the African continent. Disney has operated in Africa for over six decades and currently has a presence in 40 Sub‑Saharan countries – the next step involves leveraging its storytelling legacy and platforms to deepen engagement and reach new audiences.

Knock’s remit includes shaping overall business growth strategy, strengthening distribution partnerships, and expanding platform reach in collaboration with the EMEA regional team. She remarked on her new role: “It’s an exciting time to be in the media industry and I look forward to building on the strong, dynamic established business to help further deliver Disney’s beloved brands and stories across the continent.”

Her appointment is being viewed as a timely one as Disney adapts to a rapidly evolving streaming landscape and increasing demand for localized content in Africa. With Knock leading the charge, the company signals its intent to move from presence to leadership in the region’s entertainment ecosystem.

• News Topic: Disney Company News, Disney TV News