Disney Hires Burger King Exec to Fill Top Marketing Position

Walt Disney’s film unit reached outside of the industry for its top marketing executive, naming Burger King’s John Cywinski to fill the post.

Cywinski, Burger King’s vice president of U.S. marketing, had worked closely with Disney on promotional tie-ins with its animated films, including the hamburger chain’s hugely successful “Lion King” promotion. Disney recently signed a sweeping, exclusive partnership with fast-food giant McDonald’s.

Cywinski’s formal title will be president of Buena Vista Pictures Marketing. He is the first executive in two years to occupy exclusively the marketing post at the company.

Following the departure of Robert Levin from the job in 1994, Richard Cook handled marketing tasks in addition to his longtime duties as distribution chief, although studio chief Joe Roth also played a major hands-on role in marketing. In August, Cook was promoted to chairman of Walt Disney Motion Pictures group under Roth.

Cywinski, who starts next week, will oversee advertising, promotion, media, publicity and research. Before joining Burger King, he worked in marketing for PepsiCo’s Kentucky Fried Chicken division and was an ad executive in Chicago for the Leo Burnett agency.

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