Director, Corporate Development; Merges & Acquisitions

Job  
Location Burbank, California, United States Business The Walt Disney Company (Corporate)
Date posted Oct. 29, 2026

The Corporate Development group at The Walt Disney Company is a team of approximately ten professionals with backgrounds in media & technology, investment banking, private equity, and consulting, who serve as in-house advisors to the company’s senior executive leadership on key inorganic growth opportunities globally and who negotiate and execute M&A transactions.

The department’s activities and accomplishments have contributed to the growth and success of many of the company’s business units across the Disney Entertainment, Sports, and Disney Experiences segments.

Examples of work completed include:

• Acquisitions: NFL Media Assets, 21st Century Fox, Hulu, BAMTech, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar
• Joint Ventures:
  Combination of Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, Merger of Star India with Viacom
  18
• Investments:
  Minority stakes in WEBTOON, Epic Games, Premier Lacrosse League
• Divestitures: A+E Global Media, Endemol Shine, Fox Next Games, Fox’s 22 Regional Sports Networks

Responsibilities:

The Director, Corporate Development is an executive level position and plays a key role in evaluating and executing acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, and divestitures, and developing new business opportunities.

The position entails extensive interaction with business unit and corporate senior management and requires significant M&A execution and project leadership experience. Directors exhibit excellent quantitative and qualitative problem-solving skills and apply their rich base of knowledge within the media and entertainment industry from a ‘principal’ perspective. Directors facilitate the executive decision-making process to influence the long-term strategic direction of The Walt Disney Company.

• Lead the evaluation, structuring, and execution of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, equity investments, and divestitures, including valuation, due diligence, and deal negotiation.
• Collaborate with business units and cross-functional deal teams including strategy, tax, accounting, treasury, and legal to develop transaction theses, build sophisticated financial and operating models, and analyze financial impacts.
• Make clear recommendations to senior leadership through robust research and analysis.
• Monitor, assess, and analyze critical media and entertainment trends worldwide to identify strategic opportunities and risks across Disney’s portfolio.
• Provide continuous coaching, feedback, and development opportunities to team members, building a strong leadership bench and high-performing culture.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven experience leading corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or related functions within large, complex organizations, with a strong track record in media, entertainment, technology, or branded consumer sectors.
• Demonstrated expertise in evaluating and executing M&A transactions, joint ventures, equity investments, and divestitures, including valuation, financial modeling, and deal execution.
• Strong analytical capabilities and advanced financial modeling skills, with the ability to synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for senior executives.
• Ability to assess and interpret global media and entertainment trends, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes to inform investment decisions.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and business acumen, with a results-oriented, decisive, and innovative approach to complex corporate challenges.
• Highly effective communication and presentation skills, including the ability to develop cogent arguments and…