BURBANK, Calif. and LONDON, February 26, 2009 – Matthew Grossman has joined The Walt Disney Company as vice president, Corporate Communications, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), it was announced today by Zenia Mucha, executive vice president, Corporate Communications. Mr. Grossman will be based in London and will manage Disney’s public profile with the media across EMEA, coordinate the communications for Disney’s various lines of business, provide communications counsel and guidance to Disney’s European executives, handle any crisis communications and manage internal communications.
“Matt’s skills and range of experiences will greatly enhance our communications efforts throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa,” said Ms. Mucha. “His familiarity with the region, the technology sector, and well-known brands and global companies will be extremely valuable for all of Disney’s stakeholders and audiences.”
Prior to joining Disney Mr. Grossman was senior vice president, International, Edelman Public Relations, Paris where he counseled companies such as Société Générale, Microsoft Xbox and Starbucks on French and European communications. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president, Digital Entertainment, Rights and Technology at Edelman in the U.S where he led strategic corporate communications, analyst and media relations and integrated public awareness/issues management programs for prominent entertainment and technology clients including Toshiba, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and MySpace.
Before his tenure with Edelman, Mr. Grossman ran the Los Angeles communications department for the Motion Picture Association. As director of corporate communications and digital strategy, he worked closely with the leading motion picture studios on public affairs and legislation, digital leadership and media relations. He launched, localized and adapted an industry-wide education program in more than 40 countries to raise consumer awareness on the impact of new technologies and piracy.
Mr. Grossman has a Masters in Business Administration from The Anderson School of Business at UCLA and a Bachelor’s of the Arts in Film/Video from Middlebury College.