Business 3 min read By Morgan Griffin
Disney Names Carol Choi Asia Pacific President as Luke Kang Retires
Carol Choi will succeed Luke Kang as president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific on Dec. 1, overseeing Disney Entertainment's studios, Disney+ and other businesses across the region after Kang's 16-year tenure.
The Walt Disney Company has named Carol Choi as its next president of Asia Pacific, elevating a current regional executive to lead Disney Entertainment's operations across the region as Luke Kang prepares to retire after 16 years with the company.
Choi, currently executive vice president of The Walt Disney Company APAC, will take the top regional job on Dec. 1. In that role she will oversee Disney Entertainment's portfolio of businesses across Asia Pacific, including studios and the Disney+ streaming service, according to the company's announcement.
Kang's departure marks the end of a lengthy run at Disney, where he spent 16 years and most recently served as APAC president. The company said he decided to retire, and Choi's appointment follows that decision. The transition places a longtime regional executive in charge of one of Disney's key international growth markets at a time when Hollywood studios are leaning heavily on streaming expansion outside the United States.
Choi's promotion from executive vice president to president keeps leadership of the region inside the company and signals continuity for Disney's Asia Pacific strategy. Her portfolio will include the studio business that produces and distributes film and television content in the region, as well as the direct-to-consumer operations anchored by Disney+, which the company has been scaling across markets in Asia.
The appointment comes as Disney and its rivals compete for subscribers and local content in a region that spans major markets including Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and Southeast Asia. Asia Pacific has become a central battleground for streaming growth, with platforms investing in local-language productions and partnerships to attract audiences. Choi's oversight of both studios and streaming puts her at the center of that effort.
Disney did not provide further details about the timing of Kang's retirement or the reasons behind his decision beyond the company's statement. Choi's appointment is effective Dec. 1, giving her control of the regional business as the company heads into a new year.
The leadership change is the latest in a series of executive moves across the entertainment industry as studios restructure international operations and adjust to shifting viewing habits. For Disney, the Asia Pacific president role carries responsibility for coordinating content, distribution and streaming strategy across a diverse set of markets with different regulatory and competitive landscapes.
Choi's background as executive vice president of the region means she is already familiar with the company's operations and partners there. Her promotion is expected to provide a smooth handover from Kang, who leaves after more than a decade and a half with Disney.
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