Diego Lerner, a longtime executive at The Walt Disney Company who shaped its expansion in Latin America and Europe, died on December 18 in Buenos Aires after a long illness. He was 71. Lerner spent nearly 35 years with Disney, driving key initiatives in pay TV, streaming, and local content production.
Diego Lerner joined The Walt Disney Company in 1990 as executive director of its video and pay-TV divisions for Latin America. He launched direct distribution operations in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina to combat piracy and adapt to local markets. As pay TV penetration grew in the region, Lerner was promoted to president of The Walt Disney Company Latin America. Under his leadership, the company introduced Disney Channel in 2000, Jetix in 2004, and Playhouse Disney in 2008, integrating various business lines into a unified vertical operation that became a model for Disney's international efforts.
In 2009, Lerner's success led to his appointment as president of The Walt Disney Company in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, based in London until 2017. He focused on improving consumer affinity amid the shift from linear TV to streaming. Returning to Latin America in late 2018 as president, Lerner emphasized local storytelling for Disney+. In November 2020, he highlighted the importance of regionally relevant content, noting over 70 original productions in development across Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia.
Lerner's projects included the teen musical series "Violetta" (2012-2015) and the drama "Limbo," which premiered at Canneseries in 2022. He also secured significant sports rights, ensuring ESPN would share Argentina's Primera Division soccer matches with TNT through 2030 after navigating political challenges.
In a 2019 interview with ConverCom, Lerner stressed, "not technology but storytelling. What matters is the quality of content. Scripts are still king." Disney praised his contributions to its storytelling legacy, while CEO Bob Iger expressed condolences, noting their 35 years of collaboration and friendship. A private funeral occurred on December 19, attended by creatives like Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat. In November, Lerner had been named honorary president of The Walt Disney Company Latin America, with Martin Iraola succeeding him.
