Rebecca Campbell, former Disney and 6ABC executive, appointed to The Inquirer’s board of directors.
Rebecca Campbell, a former senior executive at The Walt Disney Company, has taken a pivotal role on the board of governors for The Inquirer. Her appointment comes after her retirement from Disney in 2023, where she enjoyed a distinguished 26-year career, ultimately leading a newly established international content team focused on enhancing streaming services through platforms such as Disney+, Hulu, and Star+.
During her extensive tenure at Disney, Campbell held various significant positions, notably as the head of the streaming segment and Chief Operating Officer for Disneyland Resort, where she managed operations for both theme parks and hotels. In early 2023, she departed from the company following a strategic restructuring initiated by CEO Bob Iger, designed to address financial challenges and improve the profitability of Disney’s streaming services. Observers noted that Campbell’s exit was influenced by organizational shifts that placed international entertainment divisions under new executives, leading her to seek opportunities elsewhere.
The leadership transition at Disney was marked by turbulence. Bob Iger had resigned in 2020, and his successor, Bob Chapek, faced considerable backlash amid significant financial losses in the streaming sector, resulting in his termination. Iger’s return in late 2022 aimed to stabilize the company during a challenging period. Within this context, Campbell was viewed as one of Iger’s trusted allies and was even seen as a potential candidate for the CEO role prior to her departure.
Before joining Disney, Campbell built her career in local television, serving in various capacities at WABC-TV in New York and WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, where she spent a decade and held the title of president and general manager of 6abc.
Campbell officially joined The Inquirer’s board on February 1, 2023. In addition to her responsibilities at The Inquirer, she is also involved with Versant Media Group, a Comcast spinoff that manages cable channels including MS Now and CNBC. The Inquirer’s board, led by corporate finance attorney Lisa Kabnick, is tasked with making key operational decisions for the publication, although the newsroom maintains operational independence.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, Campbell’s extensive experience in media and entertainment could provide valuable insights for The Inquirer as it navigates the future of digital journalism amid shifting audience dynamics.
