Back in March saw it learned that DC co-president Diane Nelson would be taking a break from the studio, and now it’s learned she is leaving DC and Warner Bros.
Following having taken a leave of absence in late March to focus on family-related issues, Diane Nelson is not expected to return and has told Warner Bros. Entertainment CEO Kevin Tsujihara about her plans.
“Diane has been a friend and colleague as well as a valued member of the Warner Bros. family for more than 20 years,” Tsujihara said. “Throughout her tenure, her leadership and contributions have helped shape the way the studio operates today, and we’re better for having had her on our team. While we’re sad she’ll be leaving us, we completely respect and support her decision. Whatever her next chapter holds, I know she’ll make it amazing.”
Nelson added in a statement: “Warner Bros. has been my home for over 20 years with a wide variety of incredible professional experiences. The last nine — rebuilding and managing DC Entertainment — have been a particular highlight and privilege. With the support and talents of our staff and creators, I am proud to leave DC even stronger than when I joined it. I will miss everyone —particularly my executive management team — without whom none of our achievements could have been realized. And I am excited to take on my next professional adventure.”
Diane Nelson has worked for WB for 22-year years and helped establish the Harry Potter franchise and the DC Universe as we know it today.
Diane Nelson bio:
Diane Nelson serves as President of DC Entertainment (DCE) and President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP).
As President of DC Entertainment, Nelson is charged with leading the efforts to fully realize the power and value of DCE’s rich portfolio of stories and characters, including such cultural icons as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, across all media and platforms, while strategically integrating the DC, Vertigo and MAD brands deeply across Warner Bros. Entertainment and all its content and distribution businesses.
Since 2009, when Nelson took over leadership of DCE, the comic book publisher has partnered with Studio colleagues on the development of television projects, feature films, blockbuster video games, as well as a host of other impressive headline-making initiatives – all sparking Advertising Age to name DC Entertainment one of America’s Hottest Brands.
In close collaboration with Warner Bros. Television, there are more DC TV shows on the air than ever before. A total of ten DC shows will air during the 2016-2017 season. New series include Powerless(NBC) and the animated show Justice League Action (Cartoon Network) with returning series Supergirl(CW), Arrow (CW), The Flash (CW), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (CW), iZombie (CW), Gotham (FOX), Lucifer (FOX) and the animated show Teen Titans Go! (Cartoon Network).
A robust DC film slate through 2020 in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures includes The LEGO Batman Movie (2017), Wonder Woman (2017), Justice League (2017), The Flash (2018), Aquaman (2018), Justice League 2 (2019), Cyborg (2020) and Green Lantern Corps. (2020). Films in development at New Line Cinemas include Shazam! and Vertigo’s Fables, 100 Bullets, and The Kitchen.
In partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, DC is home to the most successful super hero game franchise in the industry – Batman: Arkham. Other DC games include Batman: The Telltale Series, Batman: Arkham Underworld and the much anticipated Injustice 2.
Nelson’s responsibilities at Warner Bros. Consumer Products include working with divisional management on the group’s global business strategies and execution to optimize Warner Bros.’ slate of film, television and animation properties. WBCP represents some of the most highly regarded entertainment franchises in the world, including DC (Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman), J.K. Rowling’s Wizard World (Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts), The Hobbit Trilogy, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo and The Big Bang Theory, among many others. In addition, WBCP manages a successful global themed entertainment business, which includes the groundbreaking The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Previously, Nelson also served as President & Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment where she was responsible for overseeing the development of a slate of top-tier digitally powered console and mobile games, including those based on DC characters, as well as other Warner Bros. properties and original IP. In addition, she has served as President of Warner Premiere, developing and producing direct-to-dvd feature films and short-form digital content for Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s distribution businesses. She was also Executive Vice President, Global Brand Management for Warner Bros. Entertainment, a group she started in 2005 in order to continue the cross-company brand management work she began on the Harry Potter property in 2000, expanding efforts to include such iconic films as Batman Begins, Superman Returns, The Polar Express, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Happy Feet.
Nelson transitioned into this cross-company role from her position as Executive Vice President of Domestic Marketing for Warner Bros. Pictures. She has held a number of other positions within the Studio, having joined the company in 1996 as Director of Worldwide Corporate Promotions.
Nelson came to Warner Bros. from Walt Disney Records, where she served as Director of National Promotions.
Active in philanthropy, Nelson serves on the Board of the Boulder, Colorado-based There with Care, a non-profit organization that supports families with children affected by critical illnesses.
Nelson is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications.
