Disney/ABC Television Group Names 2 SVPs to Lead Consumer Insights & Research Teams

Disney|ABC Television Group has named current ABC Research executive Elizabeth Sloan and Jane Gould, an accomplished leader in generational, lifestyle and media research, to the newly created positions of senior vice president, Consumer Insights, for the Group's broadcast/studio and cable teams, respectively. It was announced today by Cindy Davis, executive vice president, Consumer Experience, Disney|ABC Television Group, to whom both will report.

Sloan will lead all consumer insights, research and analytics functions across ABC Entertainment, ABC Studios and ABC News.

Gould will oversee all consumer insights, research and analytics functions across the Group's four cable networks - Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD and FreeForm - as well as Radio Disney. In addition, she will provide guidance for and collaboration with Research partners at Disney Channels around the world.

Both Sloan and Gould will work to define and execute a strategic vision and innovative methodologies that advance Disney|ABC's understanding of and engagement with consumers across all platforms.

In making the announcement, Davis said, "As we cultivate a cutting-edge research discipline, these two roles are critical to positioning our network brands for continued success in an ever-evolving consumer marketplace. Elizabeth is an experienced professional with a proven track record within ABC, and the larger industry. In this new role, she will play an integral part in our quest to better understand and respond to viewers' changing behaviors, as well as analyze data about how, when, where and why consumers are watching television. Similarly, Jane's achievements as a groundbreaking researcher, and her strong reputation as a strategic advisor, team-builder and collaborator will prepare us for the future by aligning our greatest strengths with our biggest opportunities."

Gould commented, "I have a great appreciation for Disney and the deep connection people have to its characters and stories, and I look forward to getting to work on strengthening the Disney and FreeForm TV brands with the teams that make magic for kids and families and entertain young adults every day."

Sloan added, "As Disney|ABC Television becomes more and more focused on creating a consumer-centric culture that guides its future, I look forward to leveraging my internal and external relationships and continually advancing tools and new methodologies."

Previously, Sloan was vice president, Research and Brand Strategy, Disney|ABC Television Group, serving as a key business partner, responsible for informing business decisions with a deep understanding of our consumers. She led a cross-functional team that translates quantitative and qualitative data into actionable insights for long-term strategies. Sloan joined Disney in 2001 as the director of Research for ABC Television Network. Previously, Sloan served as the director of Partnership Marketing and Research for Launch/Yahoo! Music, and prior to that she held marketing and research positions for Universal Television and CBS/Westinghouse.

Sloan received a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a marketing minor from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

Gould joins Disney from Viacom Networks. She began working for Viacom's Nickelodeon in her native Australia in 1999, relocated to its New York headquarters in 2008 and most recently was senior vice president, Research and Insights, MTV Group. She will now relocate to Los Angeles.

Since March 2014, Gould was senior vice president, Research and Insights, MTV Group, in New York. Previously (2010-2014), she was senior vice president, Global Brand and Consumer Insights for Nickelodeon, covering a global perspective in support of Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nick at Nite, Nick.com, addicting games and the Nick App. In that role, she spearheaded noted research that predicted the core traits of a generation, directly influencing content creation and business strategy. In her role of vice president, Brand and Consumer Insights, Nickelodeon (June 2008-June 2010), she developed a study which examined the changing face of THE FAMILY in America, and launched a dedicated research facility and examination of the role of play.

In Sydney, Australia, she was president and founder of a boutique company Looking Glass Insights (2006-2008), after working as the Programming, Production and Research director for Nickelodeon Australia for seven years (1999-2006). At Looking Glass Insights, her clients included ABC Commercial, MTV and Nickelodeon.

Gould earned a Bachelor degree in Psychology with an emphasis in child and adolescent development from Macquarie University, Australia, and a Bachelor degree in Business with an emphasis in statistics, econometrics and research from Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Photo credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

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