Cathleen Taff, The Walt Disney Company

Cathleen joined Disney in 1994 as a Senior Financial Analyst in Studio Reporting and Planning. She quickly garnered promotions becoming Manager and then Director of Consolidations Reporting with Forecast and Planning. In 1998 Cathleen became the Vice President of Finance for the Disney Music Group – known at that time as the Buena Vista Music Group. During her tenure with the Music Group, she played a pivotal role in transforming a struggling business into a $100 million successful music group. Cathleen’s efforts were rewarded, as she was promoted to Senior Vice President of the Buena Vista Music Group in 2001.

In 2003 Cathleen transitioned away from Music and into the role of Senior Vice President and Controller of The Walt Disney Studios. While serving as the Studio Controller, Cathleen was an integral participant in a cost savings initiative that generated over $100 million for the Studio in 2006. Cathleen also focused on providing a strategy and vision that allowed Controllership to attain its goal of becoming a World Class Organization.

In 2008 Cathleen moved from Controllership into a role created specifically for her with the charge of building and leading a new team to look across the Studio and identify opportunities to create efficiencies and cost savings. That team, Strategic Operational Initiatives, found a great deal of success and helped to deliver millions of dollars in savings for the Studio across various lines of business.

In late 2009 Cathleen could not resist her love for music any longer and rejoined the Disney Music Group in the capacity of Senior Vice President and General Manager. Cathleen was a primary driver in building additional and stronger relationships and collaborative opportunities for the Music Group across all parts of The Walt Disney Company. In 2012 Cathleen was a principle architect in the design and reorganization of the Disney Music Group, transitioning the department into a more streamlined model that allows the Music Group to function as one integrated business.

In 2013 Cathleen was tapped to lead the Integrated Planning and Franchise Management team as Senior Vice President, driving collaborative efforts to maximize the value of Walt Disney Studio brands and creative properties across all divisions of The Walt Disney Company, the position she currently holds.

Cathleen maintains the reputation of being a strong leader, mentor, developer of both individuals and staffs, and a driver of Studio and Company initiatives.

Born in Northern California, Cathleen received a B.A. degree in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of California Santa Barbara. Additionally, she is a Certified Public Accountant in California. Prior to working for Disney Cathleen began her career at Deloitte & Touche.

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