FORMER NETFLIX EXEC, TARA DUNCAN, TO BE PRESIDENT OF DISNEY’S FREEFORM

Tara Duncan has been hired to be President of Disney’s young adult network Freeform. She will begin working on her new position's roles on 8th June. “Tara is an exceptionally skilled executive and a seasoned producer who is bringing a wealth of experience, across linear channels and streaming platforms, to her new role,” said Dana Walden, Chairman at Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment in a statement. “Her background, great taste, and reputation make her the perfect choice to lead Freeform and its original programming that entertains viewers across its linear channel and distribution on Hulu."

Duncan replaces Tom Ascheim, who departed from Freeform in early April to join WarnerMedia as president of global kids, young adults, and classics. In her new role, Duncan will oversee all functions at the network including strategic planning, brand development, content strategy, original programming, production, scheduling, finance, research, marketing, and communications. “The programming on Freeform makes me think, laugh, and feel good at a time when being optimistic matters most,” said Duncan in a statement. “It is incredibly exciting to join the Freeform team and continue forging a path for fun, daring storytelling.” 

She joined the network as a result of her overall deal at Hulu, where she has organized and presented a strong slate of projects. Before joining Hulu, Duncan was a senior creative executive at Netflix overseeing the hit series “Orange Is the New Black” and “Narcos,” and launching series with directors Spike Lee, Baz Luhrmann, The Wachowskis, and Justin Simien. Before that, she produced the pilot for Amazon’s “Bosch” and was a key creative executive at AMC. “Tara and I met for the first time a little over a year ago, and I was truly taken with her vision and understanding of the creative process,” Walden said. “Getting her inside of Walt Disney Television has been a priority and I am thrilled she will be leading the formidable Freeform team.”

Duncan also is a founding member of Who’s In The Room, an executive mentorship program created to help diversify the executive and producer ranks in the industry. She initiated her career at Section Eight, George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh’s production company.