Disney names two execs to head digital business

By Sue Zeidler

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co on Sunday appointed two digital veterans to lead its loss-making stable of Internet properties, underscoring a renewed focus on developing digital businesses.

James Pitaro, an experienced Internet executive who just left his post at running the media properties at Yahoo Inc, will oversee Disney Online, the home of Disney branded web and social media sites.

As co-president of Disney Interactive Media Group, John Pleasants, the CEO of Playdom, the online game company recently bought by Disney for $763 million, will focus on online gaming and will continue to run Playdom.

In an interview, Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said he believed the structural change at the top of the division was needed to "create a real business in this space."

The two executives replace Steve Wadsworth, a 17-year veteran, who will step down and had in recent years brought together most of Disney's Internet properties within Disney Interactive Media Group, which narrowed its loss slightly to $65 million in the most recently reported quarter.

"As co-presidents, I'm confident they will make Disney's digital content and businesses even more robust and successful," Iger said.

Pleasants will oversee Disney's overall games strategy and its global network of game development studios, including recently acquired mobile publisher Tapulous. The games group will include such popular online virtual worlds as Club Penguin, purchased by Disney in 2007 for about $350 million, and World of Cars as well as console and mobile titles.

Prior to joining Playdom as CEO in June 2009, he was President of Global Publishing and Chief Operating Officer of Electronic Arts Inc.   Continued...