With a career spanning more than three decades at The Walt Disney Company, Diego Lerner was a central figure in the development of the audiovisual business in Latin America and a key driver of local production and content.
Diego Lerner, one of the most important and respected executives in the history of the Latin American audiovisual industry, passed away on Thursday, December 18, just weeks after stepping down as president of The Walt Disney Company Latin America.
“We express our deepest condolences to Diego’s family. I know I speak for everyone at Disney in recognizing how much he will be missed,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, in a press release.
A long illness had forced Lerner into an honorary position, leaving his place as president of Disney in Latin America to Martín Iraola, after decades of “invaluable contributions to the company over the years,” the American giant had said at the time.
Lerner’s career in the industry, at Disney in particular, is simply legendary, and his legacy, in the region and the US company, is profound. The executive began his career at Disney in the early 1990s, responsible for opening the company’s first offices in Latin America. Over the course of nearly 35 years, he held various leadership positions, including president of Disney in Latin America and in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, where he consolidated operations, strengthened the brand’s presence, and fostered the development of local content and growth strategies tailored to diverse markets.
Under his leadership, Disney not only expanded its commercial reach, but also drove the launch of prominent channels within its portfolio, the consolidation of its pay TV offering, and the expansion of operations in key markets in the region. His strategic approach included the integration of emerging technologies and formats as part of the “art of storytelling,” a philosophy he himself defined as the core of the audiovisual business.
Disney highlighted that Lerner helped lay the foundations for the business in the region and strengthen the company’s narrative legacy, as well as his unwavering dedication even in the last months of his life.
Executives and colleagues from various sectors, as well as professionals from the entertainment industry, have underscored the strategic vision, innovative spirit, and commitment to creating cultural and economic value that characterized Lerner’s career, projecting an impact that will transcend future generations in the audiovisual sector in Latin America.
His departure leaves a void that will be difficult to fill in the regional audiovisual industry. In addition to his vision and corporate leadership, Lerner was recognized throughout his career for his human qualities, his closeness to his teams, and his genuine commitment to developing local talent. Over the years, and even more so now with his passing, many of his colleagues emphasize that his legacy is not only measured in business results or successful launches, but also in the people he trained and the work culture he helped build over the years.
