Anne Sweeney – Life is Choices
COUNTRY OF BIRTH
United States
INDUSTRY
Digital Media and Entertainment
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS
Anne Sweeney is an American business executive best known for her leading positions at the Walt Disney Company and as one of the most powerful women in business for several years.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Born on 4 November 1957 in Kingston, New York, Anne Sweeney studied at the College of New Rochelle where she achieved a bachelor’s degree and at Harvard University where she achieved her master’s degree in education.
EARLY CAREER
Over the course of 12 years, Anne Sweeney held several executive roles at Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite. Her most recent post was Senior VP of the Program Enterprises division. During her tenure, Sweeney oversaw the company’s expansion abroad. Between 1993 and 1996 She worked for FX Networks as Chairwoman and CEO. She was part of the team responsible for the first studio movie network in Hollywood.
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
In February 1996 Anne Sweeney started her role as President of the Disney Channel and Executive VP of Disney/ABC Networks. In 2000 she was promoted to the role of President of Disney Channel Worldwide and ABC Cable Networks. Under Sweeney’s lead, the channel increased its subscriber base by five times. The strategy, which was started by her predecessor, involved using programming that included movies and original series. Her success was celebrated with yet another promotion when she was named as Disney/ABC TV Group’s President in 2004. In Sweeney’s new role she took on the responsibility of all the entertainment and news from the Walt Disney Company around the globe.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Throughout her career, Anne Sweeney’s achievements have been recognized with several awards: • She was named as ‘Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment’ several times by the Hollywood Reporter
• Repeatedly named as one of the ’50 Most Powerful Women in Business’ by Forbes and Fortune magazines
• Named as one of the ‘World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ by Forbes
• Achieved a spot in the Hall of Fame of Broadcasting
• Achieved a spot in the Advertising Hall of Achievement of the American Advertising Federation
• 1997 Woman of the Year, 1998 Advocate Leader and 1994 Executive of the Year awards from Women in Cable & Telecommunications
• 2004 New York Women in Film & Television Muse Award
• American Women in Radio & Television 1995 STAR Award
• 2002 Women in Film LA Lucy Award
Anne Sweeney
PERSONAL LIFE
Anne Sweeney is married and has two children, a daughter named Rosie and a son named Christopher who has autism. Despite the challenges of a high-ranking corporate role, parenthood, and a child with special needs, Sweeney has achieved phenomenal success. The family motto invented by her is, ‘Life is Choices’.
ADDITIONAL FACTS
- Managed the successful start of Disney’s animation channel in 1998
• Responsible for the launch of a 24-hour soap opera channel called SOAPnet
• Left Disney to pursue a career as a director and shadowed Angela Bassett soon after
• Active philanthropist focused on raising funds for people suffering from autism
