Disney ABC EVP Sardo To Retire In 2017

Sal Sardo, Disney ABC’s executive vice president of distribution marketing, has announced that he will retire from The Walt Disney Co. on March 1, 2017.

Sardo, who joined Disney in 1985 as an advertising manager for the company’s then-newly-formed syndication arm, currently leads in-home creative and digital marketing, as well as in-home creative content, for all motion pictures from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, as well as television distribution marketing for Disney ABC.

He has been an executive vice president since 2001.

Sardo has contributed to a number of physical and digital sell-through successes, including the inaugural release of the Star Wars catalog on digital; the in-home release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens; and the recent in-home release of Zootopia. He and his team also helped launch Disney’s direct-to-consumer digital cloud service Disney Movies Anywhere.

Earlier in his Disney career, Sardo led program launches including Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, as well as the syndication marketing launches of Home Improvement and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. He later co-developed ABC primetime reality show Vital Signs and started a program to develop public service campaigns for nonprofit organizations.

“It’s been a fantastic ride with an incredible company – I couldn’t have scripted a better career,” Sardo said in a statement. “I’m very grateful to Disney for the support and opportunities I’ve experienced here and to my talented colleagues for the wonderful collaboration we’ve shared over the years.”

“Sal possesses a rare combination of intelligence, composure and drive, and as a creative executive, his strategic instincts and thoughtful leadership have been invaluable to our team and to the company,” Janice Marinelli, president of Disney ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, said in a statement.

Sardo started his career as a promo producer at Metromedia Television, later running a marketing department for its station group during his five years at the company.

Sardo also has been honored with numerous industry awards, including Promax, Emmy and Telly awards and a Clio, as well as Promax “Brand Builder” and “Campaigns of Distinction” awards.