Disney+ Names Sky Veteran Karl Holmes as EMEA Leader

Published on 11/27/24 by Craig Smith

Disney has appointed Karl Holmes as Senior Vice President, Direct-to-Consumer and General Manager for Disney+ in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Holmes, who will assume his new role in January 2025, brings over a decade of experience from Sky, where he held various senior positions, including Chief Operating Officer for Europe and Chief Financial Officer for the UK and Ireland.

At Disney+, Holmes will oversee the platform’s operations across the EMEA region, reporting to Jan Koeppen, President of The Walt Disney Company EMEA, and Joe Earley, President of Direct-to-Consumer at Disney Entertainment. His appointment follows the departure of Luke Bradley-Jones, who left earlier this year to become President of The Economist.

Koeppen expressed confidence in Holmes’ ability to drive growth, citing his proven track record in consumer-facing businesses. Holmes, a long-time admirer of Disney, expressed enthusiasm about leading Disney+ into its fifth year and expanding its reach to more audiences.