Anne Sweeney, Disney/ABC Television Group President, as well as Disney Media Works Co-Chair, has been named MIPCOM’s Personality of the Year for 2011 by Reed MIDEM, a leading organizer globally of tradeshows. This marks the first time that a woman has been honored with the distinction.
Sweeney will accept the award during a gala dinner for industry executives to be held on October 5 in Cannes, France. She will also be the keynote speaker for MIPCOM’s Media Mastermind series the same day. The three day event, held October 3-6, will mark the 27th gathering of industry executives, and will take place at the Palais des Festivals.
Paul Zilk, Chief Executive of Reed MIDEM, had this to say regarding Sweeney:
We are extremely pleased to honour Anne Sweeney as our MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year in recognition of her unparalleled contributions to the global entertainment industry. Of special note is her contribution to the expansion of Disney’s portfolio of channels, brands and programming worldwide, as well as her visionary leadership in fostering content on emerging digital platforms.
Sweeney responded with equal graciousness to the news that she would be honored by Reed MIDEM, and was quick to share the credit for Disney’s success with the company’s employees:
I am so very honored to be the recipient of MIPCOM’s 2011 Personality of the Year. However the accomplishments which have led to this honor are not mine alone. They are the result of the tireless efforts of so very many talented colleagues. This event will allow me to acknowledge and celebrate everyone on the Disney/ABC Television Group and Disney Media Distribution teams, who not only create some of the most acclaimed and popular programming around the globe, but also continually develop new, innovative distribution methods that meet the ever-evolving needs of consumers.
Sweeney adds MIPCOM’s Personality of the Year to a long list of accolades, including having been named the “Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment” by The Hollywood Reporter. She was also named to Fortune’s list of “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” as well as one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes.
