Theresa Helmer Promoted To New Role At Disney Channel To Champion Inclusive Storytelling

 Disney Channel has promoted Theresa Helmer to its newly created role of Executive Director, Integrated Content Strategy and Development. The role, which is a part of the senior leadership team, was created to accelerate inclusion, racial and cultural diversity when it comes to children’s programming. 

“Theresa’s unflagging determination, insight and passion have already contributed to enhancing our diversity, inclusion and belonging efforts,” said Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide in a Deadline exclusive. “In this new role as part of the senior leadership team, she’ll have a seat at the table that will allow her to reinforce further how we can authentically showcase underrepresented populations in our storytelling.”

Helmer previously served as Director, Social Media Strategy in Disney Channel’s Marketing group after joining the company in 2014 as a social media analyst in the Parks and Resorts division. For the past two years, she also served as co-president of The Bond, Disney’s volunteer Enterprise Business Employee Resource Group. The Bond helps Black employees and consumer interests at the company.

Helmer’s new role at the company not only works across internal departments, but also works with the marketing team to establish an operating model that helps drive the portrayal of underrepresented communities into their marketing content. 

Earlier this year, Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman, made a promise to diversify the largely male, all-white executive leadership team by 2021.