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FuboTV Appoints Disney+ President Alisa Bowen as CEO, Replacing Co-Founder Gandler
Streaming company FuboTV announced a significant leadership change on Thursday, appointing former Walt Disney executive Alisa Bowen as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 10. The move ousts company co-founder David Gandler, who has served as CEO since FuboTV's inception in 2015.
Executive Overhaul
Alisa Bowen, 53, joins FuboTV from a high-profile role as president of Disney's flagship streaming service, Disney+, a position she has held since September 2022. The company's board expressed confidence that her background will be critical for FuboTV's next phase of growth.
"Alisa is a proven operator who brings nearly 30 years of product, digital and operational experience, including leadership across Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+," said Andy Bird, chairman of FuboTV's board, in a statement. The appointment signals a strategic shift, bringing in an established executive from one of the world's largest media conglomerates to steer the smaller, sports-centric streaming player.
New Leadership's Profile
Bowen's career includes senior leadership positions at News Corp Australia, Dow Jones, and Thomson Reuters, giving her extensive experience across the media and information services landscape. Her appointment comes with a significant compensation package, according to a regulatory filing.
AdKey details of her employment agreement include:
- An annual base salary of $1.58 million.
- Eligibility for an annual performance bonus with a target of 120% of her base salary.
Founder's Departure
David Gandler's employment as CEO ended on July 9, the company stated. As a co-founder, Gandler has been the public face of FuboTV for nearly a decade, guiding it from a startup to a publicly traded company. The company confirmed that Gandler will receive severance benefits as stipulated in his employment agreement.
In addition to his removal as CEO, Gandler has also resigned from his position on FuboTV’s board of directors. Consequently, his nomination for re-election at the company's upcoming annual meeting has been withdrawn.