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Disney Consumer Products names Leslie Ferraro as president
MUMBAI: Disney Consumer Products has named Leslie Ferraro as president.
A 16-year Disney veteran, Ferraro most recently served as Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ executive vice president, global marketing, sales and travel operations, where she was responsible for leading the marketing and sales teams in developing numerous highly successful consumer campaigns worldwide.
As president of Disney Consumer Products, Ferraro will oversee a global operation that delivers innovative and engaging products, from toys and apparel to books and fine art, through its Licensing, Publishing and Disney Store businesses. Ferraro assumes the role formerly held by Bob Chapek, who became Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman in February.
She will report directly to both The Walt Disney Company chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger and COO Thomas O. Staggs.
“Leslie is a highly talented, proven executive with a strong track record of creativity and innovation. Having managed worldwide marketing and sales for one of our largest businesses, she brings a global perspective and deep knowledge of the company and its brands to her new position,” Iger said.
“During her tenure at Parks and Resorts, Leslie was known for driving results and inspiring her teams to even greater achievements. She has a deep understanding of our brands and franchises, as well as a solid vision for how they fit into the global consumer marketplace, both of which will serve her extremely well as she leads the Disney Consumer Products team into the future,” added Staggs.
“This is an exciting time at Disney Consumer Products, given the company’s unprecedented array of brands and franchises. I look forward to leading this dynamic business and our incredibly talented team as we continue to launch new products and retail experiences that combine technological innovation and creativity,” Ferraro said.
Ferraro joined Disney in 1999 as director of marketing for Theme Parks and Resorts and went on to hold a variety of marketing leadership positions. She has also served on the Hong Kong Disneyland Board of Directors.
Prior to joining Disney, Ferraro held various senior-level marketing positions at McCann-Erickson, Johnson & Johnson and SmithKline Beecham.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
