Walmart hires Disney exec in new ad/marketing role

Retail giant Walmart, which continues to build its internal advertising and media business, recently hired former Disney executive Jean Battany as the company’s first chief creative officer.

Battany formerly served as vice president at Walt Disney Park Experiences and Consumer products from 2016 to early 2021. Battany joins William White, chief marketing officer at Walmart, and the recently hired Courtney Carlson, the former Under Armour and Target marketing exec, to help grow Walmart’s media and advertising business.

In the new role at Walmart, Battany “leads the vision for consumer centric communications across all channels, collaborating to develop breakthrough and innovative marketing at all consumer touch points,” according to her LinkedIn post.

Battany also is the founding member of Chief, an organization specifically designed for senior women to strengthen executive leadership skills and cross pollinate ideas among various industries and affect change from the top-down, as noted on the organization’s LinkedIn page.