Chris Heatherly Jumps From Disney Games To NBC Universal
In a strategic move to expand NBCUniversal’s Games and Digital Platforms business, interactive entertainment and consumer technology industry veteran Chris Heatherly has been named Executive Vice President, Worldwide Games and Digital Platforms, it was announced today by Vince Klaseus, President, NBCUniversal Brand Development. Heatherly will join NBCUniversal Brand Development September 30, and report directly to Klaseus.
NBCUniversal Brand Development’s Games and Digital Platforms business unit creates interactive gaming experiences and digital content for console, mobile and PC platforms that extend brand engagement with the company’s franchises. The team is also responsible for business development opportunities utilizing NBCUniversal IP through apps, personalization and digital content.
“With more than 20 years of experience in the consumer technology and games industry, Chris has an impressive history of expanding entertainment franchises into new interactive experiences and on to emerging digital platforms,” said Klaseus. “As the new worldwide leader of our Games and Digital Platforms team, he will drive strategic initiatives to broaden our games development and grow NBCUniversal’s properties across digital platforms and emerging technologies.”
“This is such an exciting time to join NBCUniversal and the company’s rapidly growing portfolio of IP has such enormous potential in games and digital,” said Heatherly. “I’m thrilled to work with not only some of the most successful entertainment franchises in the world, but with such a diverse portfolio of properties that reaches such a wide audience.”
Heatherly most recently served as Senior Vice President & General Manager, for Disney’s Games and Apps business since 2014. While at Disney, he led strategy, management, and operations for DCPI’s content in the App Store as well as its licensed console games. In this role, he launched a series of top grossing mobile hits, including Star Wars Commander, Inside Out: Thought Bubbles and most recently Disney Emoji Blitz. He also solidified Disney’s licensing portfolio, with the launch of Star Wars Battlefront, Disney’s biggest console release ever. And he worked alongside Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, LucasFilm, Disney Channel and Marvel to leverage their IP on digital platforms.
Heatherly previously served as Senior Vice President & General Manager of Disney Interactive’s kids business. In this role, he led the highly successful reboot of Disney’s online world, Club Penguin, onto mobile and as well as expanded the franchise to television, music, and consumer products. While at Disney, he occupied several executive positions within Disney Consumer Products, where he oversaw product innovation, holding 46 patents, and expanded key relationships with global partners such as Mattel, Lego, Hasbro, Hallmark and Crayola.
He was also an advisor to the President of The Disney Store, Imagination Park, advising on the redesign of The Disney Store’s highly successful and innovative ‘Imagination Park’ format, and served on the Walt Disney Company Tech Board. Prior to Disney, Heatherly held several managerial positions in product development and brand strategy at frogdesign, Power Computing and Apple. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Jesse H. Jones School of Communications, University of Texas at Austin.
Our Take:
Chris has been a major part of Disney Interactive for a while and has been behind on many of Disney’s most recent biggest games, so it is a loss for Disney’s gaming division. There have been lots of changes at Disney Interactive this year, with a move to produce more licensed games like Star Wars Battlefront, which resulted in the closure of games like Avengers Alliance and Disney Infinity.
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