Carolina Lightcap
President, Disney Channels Worldwide
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Carolina Lightcap is President, Disney Channels Worldwide, which is part of the Disney ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company. She was promoted to her current role in November 2009.
Ms. Lightcap manages the Company's successful and burgeoning global kids TV business, a total of 94 kid-driven, family inclusive entertainment channels and/or channel feeds available in 169 countries in 33 languages. The platform brands span: Disney Channel, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama and Jetix. She also has responsibility for Radio Disney which, over the past decade, has set the radio industry standard for kid and family content. Disney Channel Worldwide's multiplatform strategy includes subscription video-on-demand and content-rich broadband websites DisneyXD.com and DisneyChannel.com -- which ranks as the #1 kids' (age 6-14) entertainment website.
A global executive team representing Disney Channel's Programming and Production, Business Affairs, Business Planning and Development, Marketing, Brand Management, Advertising Sales and Radio Disney, reports to her.
A highly-regarded executive with more than 20 years in the media and entertainment industry, Ms. Lightcap joined The Walt Disney Company in 2000 and most recently served in the dual roles of senior Vice President, Programming and Creative Affairs, Disney Channels Latin America / Disney Media Networks, and Chief Marketing Officer, The Walt Disney Company, Latin America.
During her career, Ms. Lightcap has been based in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Buenos Aires In her role as Senior Vice President of Programming and Creative Affairs, Disney Media Networks, Latin America, Ms. Lightcap was responsible for programming, production, on-air, marketing, research and publicity for Disney Channel, Disney XD and Playhouse Disney Channels, which includes 15 localized feeds in Spanish and Portuguese that are broadcast to 19 territories in Latin America.
During this time, she led the successful creative transition of Disney Channel from a premium to basic service and the organizational restructure and relocation of the teams from Miami to Buenos Aires. After acquiring full basic distribution, Disney Channel has been the pan-regional ratings leader among kids, tweens and cable Households, both on a 24-hour basis and during prime time -- for four consecutive years. Ms. Lightcap also oversaw the successful rebrand of Jetix to Disney XD and the launch of Playhouse Disney Channel throughout the region.
In addition to successfully aligning the operation and building it to unprecedented ratings heights, Ms. Lightcap spearheaded the Latin American launch of "High School Musical," which became the most watched movie among kids 4-17 in the channel's history. She also was an integral part of the team that led "High School Musical" to become a key Disney franchise which includes local feature films in Argentina, Mexico and Brazil, three multi-part "High School Musical"-themed talent competitions broadcast on Disney Channel and free to air TV in the region, and a five country arena concert tour.
As Chief Marketing Officer for The Walt Disney Company Latin America, Ms. Lightcap led the integration of Disney's marketing departments into one organization, and has been responsible for the strategic marketing direction for all Disney's lines of business in the region as well as Corporate Brand and Franchise Management, Corporate Communications and Corporate Responsibility.
She joined The Walt Disney Company as Vice President, Marketing, Media Networks, Latin America, in 2000. In 2001 she was promoted to Vice President, Marketing, On-air and Brand Strategy, and in 2004 she was elevated to Senior Vice President, Programming and Creative Affairs for Disney Channels in Latin America. In 2006 she added Chief Marketing Officer responsibilities for The Walt Disney Company.
Prior to joining Disney, Ms. Lightcap served as Vice President, Programming, Sales and Marketing, Sky Latin America Partners, based in Miami, where she was responsible for all sales and marketing for the direct-to-home satellite television service. Before Sky, she worked for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment from 1996-99, serving ultimately as Executive Director, Latin America, where she was responsible for the strategic development and supervision of all trade and consumer marketing and sales plans for sell-through and rental video releases throughout Latin America.
From 1993-96, Ms. Lightcap worked for Fox Latin American Channel, where she helped launch the Fox Latin American Channel in a record three-month period. During her six years with Fox, she was based in Los Angeles. She began her career in media in 1986, working for Reuters Ltd. and Editorial Atlantida in New York and Buenos Aires.
Ms. Lightcap holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Columbia University.
She resides in Los Angeles.