VP, Programming, DTC APAC

Vice President, Programming, Direct-to-Consumer, APAC

Location:                            Tokyo

Line of Business:             Disney Entertainment

Reporting to:                     SVP, GM, Direct-to-Consumer, APAC

About Our Team

Our Programming team sits at the center of how audiences experience Disney+. We partner closely with Content and Product to translate creative and business priorities into effective platform execution, driving discovery and engagement across the service. From curation and localization to launch and lifecycle optimization, the team maximizes each title’s performance by combining the magic of storytelling with audience insight and data-driven decision-making.

Job Summary

The VP, Programming, Direct-to-Consumer, APAC, is a pivotal member of the APAC DTC leadership team, a central force of Disney+ audience experience, reporting to the SVP, GM, DTC, APAC. The Executive in this position advances the DTC APAC business by leading strategies and teams that translate content investment into sustained subscriber engagement, working in close partnership with global and regional Content, Programming, and Product teams, to maximize each title’s performance by leveraging storytelling, audience insight, and data-driven decision-making. The VP is accountable for setting a comprehensive regional programming strategy, setting clear priorities, and advocating for the capabilities required for success.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the execution of the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) programming strategy across APAC, supporting the organization’s vision, goals, and long-term growth for Disney+.
• Shape and implement a unified programming strategy aligned with global DTC objectives, anticipating audience trends and driving subscriber acquisition, engagement, and retention.
• Serve as the primary strategic partner to global and regional Content teams, influencing content strategy and slate planning through audience and performance insights.
• Oversee the end-to-end content discovery experience, including curation, artwork, trailers, and on-platform previews, in partnership with Product and Marketing.
• Manage and enhance content metadata and tagging standards across APAC, ensuring accurate, consistent, and enriched data, to improve discovery, personalization, and search performance.
• Partner closely with global Programming, Content Curation, and Product teams to provide regular, data-driven feedback for continuous improvement of discovery and user experience in APAC.
• Partner with content localization strategy, prioritizing investments in dubbing and subtitling based on engagement and ROI.
• Collaborate closely with local, regional, and global stakeholders to ensure programming strategies are aligned, integrated, and effectively executed.
• Collaborate with ESPN and relevant stakeholders to integrate sports and live programming into Disney+.
• Champion process improvements and a solutions-oriented mindset to drive operational excellence and rapid problem-solving.
• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing regional programming team, fostering a culture of inclusion, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, regulatory standards, and uphold the highest ethical and industry practices.

Basic Qualifications Required

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in programming, content strategy, or related leadership roles within media, entertainment, or DTC streaming environments.
• Proven highly strategic programming leader in streaming businesses, with a record of achievement in APAC and a strong external network in media and entertainment.
• Significant senior leadership experience, managing leaders of leaders, with a participative approach that fosters collaboration and innovation.
• Extensive experience leading diverse, multi-functional teams in a large, matrixed organization.
• Ability to recognize, create, and communicate priorities, strategies, market opportunities, and challenges to drive growth and performance improvement.
• Skilled in balancing strategic and operational responsibilities.
• Ability to effectively lead and manage in a dynamic and challenging environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with a proven ability to engage effectively with business partners and diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent people skills, with an ability to partner with a dynamic leadership team.
• Adaptable and able to multi-task; can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving work environment while driving toward clarity and solutions.
• Must demonstrate and maintain integrity, credibility, proactive leadership, accountability, adaptability, and a forward-thinking, strategic, and agile mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• MNC experience and experience working in a highly matrixed organization.
• Deep APAC experience, especially in partnering with senior business leaders in the APAC market.
• Track record of consistently hitting or over-delivering on targets.
• Fluent in English; Japanese or Korean a plus.