Theresa Helmer Takes New Disney Channel Leadership Role to Boost Inclusive Storytelling

Theresa Helmer has been promoted to Disney Channel’s senior leadership team as executive director, Integrated Content Strategy and Development — a newly created role designed to accelerate racial and cultural diversity and inclusion in creative content for a global audience of kids ages 2-14. The announcement was made Friday by Gary Marsh, President & Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, to whom she will report.

Helmer has been with Disney since 2014, most recently serving as director, Social Media Strategy, in Disney Channel’s Marketing group.

“Theresa’s unflagging determination, insight and passion have already contributed to enhancing our diversity, inclusion and belonging efforts,” said Marsh. “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 will collaborate with several departments across Disney Channels: Consumer Insights, Movie and Series Development, Current Series (short- and long-form), the Educational Resource Group, and Creative Content and Diversity at Disney Television Animation. She will also work with the Marketing team to implement an operating model that helps drive the portrayal of underrepresented communities into all marketing content.

Helmer joined Disney in 2014 as a social media analyst in the Parks and Resorts division. She was promoted to roles of increasing responsibility, including manager, Platform Strategy, Consumer Insights & Programming at Disney Channel, and most recently, director, Social Media Strategy, in Disney Channel’s Marketing group. For the past two years, Helmer was the co-president of Disney’s volunteer Enterprise Business Employee Resource Group, The Bond, which serves as the steward for Black/African American employees and Black consumer interests at the company.