Giorgio Stock has been promoted to exec VP and managing director, Disney Channels, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and will lead The Walt Disney Company’s portfolio of kid-focused, family inclusive television channels including Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney, Disney XD and Cinemagic, in the territory. He will also serve as a Disney representative on the board of SRTL, Disney’s joint venture with RTL Group.

Stock, who joined Disney in 1997, has been SVP and GM, Disney Channels Italy, since 2005. He will relocate from Milan to London and will report to Diego Lerner, president, The Walt Disney Company, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

John Hardie, who has been with the company since 2001, has accepted a position as CEO of U.K.-based news organization ITN, supplier of news to ITV and Channel 4, according to VARIETY.

He will depart the company in June. An announcement regarding the new Senior Vice President and General Manager, Disney Channel Italy, will also be made shortly.

In his new role, Stock will have strategic oversight of all Disney Channels operations across the EMEA territory with Channels offices in London, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome and Stockholm. Disney Channels in the portfolio can be seen in 94 countries in the EMEA region.

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