The Walt Disney Company announced last week that Paul Richardson, has been named Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective July 1. In the role, he will be responsible for leading Disney’s human resources strategy, global talent acquisition, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, organizational design and cultural development, employee education and development, compensation and benefits, HR operations and technology, employee relations, and global security. He will succeed Jayne Parker, who is leaving the company after a 33-year career.

Richardson himself had previously spent six years as Disney's Chief Diversity Officer, partnering with diversity leaders across Disney’s business segments to define and implement global D&I strategies. He is currently Senior Vice President, Human Resources for Disney-owned channel ESPN, a position he has held since 2007, and has also driven multiple diversity initiatives for the channel.

He has almost two decades of experience running human resources functions in entertainment and media. Prior to joining ESPN, Richardson served as Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources at Universal McCann and Senior Vice President, Human Resources, for Paramount Pictures Corp. He was also Vice President, Human Resources, at financial services firm Bowne & Company, and before that he spent more than 10 years at The Times Mirror Company, former parent company of the Los Angeles Times, where he held HR and legal roles and served as a key member of executive management.

Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company, said he could think of no one better suited to take over leadership of Disney's HR function: “Paul Richardson is a supremely talented, strategic and personable leader with a deep passion for enriching the employee experience by championing the unique talents and perspectives of our diverse, global workforce.”