Diane Nelson (comics)

Diane Whelan Nelson (born 1968)[1] is an American business executive who was president of DC Entertainment from 2009 to 2018, and president and chief content officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment from 2013 to 2018.

This article is about the American business executive. For the Canadian curler, see Diane Nelson. For the American short story writer, see Dianne Nelson.
Diane Nelson
Born
Diane Whelan

1968 (age 54–55)
United States
CitizenshipAmerican
EducationSyracuse University
OccupationBusiness executive
Known forPresident of DC Entertainment
President and chief content officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
SpousePeter Nelson

Early life

Diane Nelson was raised in Newport, Rhode Island.[1] She received a bachelor's degree in liberal arts in 1989 from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Communications. She met her husband Peter while both were attending Syracuse.[2]

Career

After working at Foote, Cone & Belding,[2] Nelson served as Director of National Promotions for Walt Disney Records and moved to Warner Bros. in 1996,[3] where she oversaw the cross-company brand management of the Harry Potter property.[4] She became the executive vice president, Global Brand Management in May 2004.[5]

In September 2009, Warner Bros. announced that DC Comics would become a subsidiary of DC Entertainment, Inc. and Nelson would serve as President of the new division.[6] Nelson reported to Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group.[7] She appointed Jim Lee and Dan DiDio as Co-Publishers of DC Comics and Geoff Johns as chief creative officer on February 18, 2010.[8][9]

After Kevin Tsujihara became chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment, he promoted Nelson to the post of chief content officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.[10] In 2013, Nelson detailed some of the future film plans for DC properties and stated that a Sandman film will be "as rich as the Harry Potter universe."[11] Later that year, Nelson announced the decision to relocate DC's offices from New York City to Burbank, California.[12] She explained that "it was never optimal to run any business, but certainly not a creative business, on two coasts."[13]

At a 2014 Time Warner shareholders meeting, Nelson addressed the need for greater visibility of female characters and creators in DC's comics and film and television projects.[14] Earlier in the year, Nelson had described Wonder Woman as her favorite character, stating "I would be lying if I didn’t admit that Wonder Woman has an affinity for me...She’s an incredibly strong representative woman. So when I think about women in business and that balance between compassion and being a warrior, there’s just a lot in the character that really resonates for me."[15]

In August 2015, Nelson was given oversight over Warner Bros Consumer Products. Warner Bros CEO Kevin Tsujihara stated "Diane's background, which includes a great balance of business, creative and marketing, will help us bring fans exciting news ways to enjoy all of Warner Bros.’ great entertainment properties through wide-reaching, innovative consumer products experiences."[16]

After a leave of absence starting in March 2018, Nelson resigned as DC Entertainment president.[17]

Humanitarian work

Nelson oversees the "We Can Be Heroes" campaign[18] which has raised more than $2.3 million as of 2013 for hunger and drought relief in the Horn of Africa.[19] She serves on the board of directors for "There With Care", a nonprofit organization that supports families with children affected by critical illness.[20]

Nelson, Wonder Woman actresses Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter, Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and U.N. Under-Secretary General Cristina Gallach appeared at the United Nations in October 2016, the 75th anniversary of the first appearance of Wonder Woman, to mark the character's designation by the United Nations as its "Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls".[21][22] The gesture was intended to raise awareness of UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.[21][22]

Awards and honors

In December 2013, The Hollywood Reporter ranked Nelson as #39 on its "2013 Women in Entertainment Power 100" list.[23] In July 2017, Nelson was awarded the Arents Award which is Syracuse University's highest alumni honor.[24]

References
  1. Levitz, Paul (2010). "Selected Biographies". 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking. Cologne, Germany: Taschen America. p. 709. ISBN 9783836519816.
  2. "In the Spotlight: Diane Nelson". Syracuse University. 2011. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014.
  3. "Diane Nelson". DCEntertainment.com. 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014.
  4. Burlingame, Russ (November 11, 2009). "DC Ent. Pres. Diane Nelson: 'Keep The Fans In Mind'". Newsarama. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014.
  5. "Diane Nelson Promoted to the Newly Created Post of Executive Vice President, Global Brand Management, Warner Bros. Entertainment". San Francisco, California: Business Wire. May 4, 2004. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014.
  6. Cowsill, Alan (2010). "2000s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 293. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. By the end of the decade, the company had restructured, gaining a new name – DC Entertainment – a new president – Diane Nelson – and giving top talent more power.
  7. Rogers, Vaneta (September 9, 2009). "Warner Bros. Creates DC Entertainment To Maximize DC Brands". Newsarama. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013.
  8. Levitz "The Modern Age 1998-2010", p. 646: "The history of Nelson's tenure as steward of DC's proud legacy has just begun but her first move was to name a trio of familiar names as her key creative executives."
  9. Hyde, David (February 18, 2010). "Jim Lee and Dan DiDio Named Co-Publishers DC Comics. Geoff Johns to Serve as Chief Creative Officer. John Rood Named EVP, Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Patrick Caldon Named EVP, Finance and Administration". DC Comics. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. The new senior executive team includes Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, who have been named Co-Publishers of DC Comics, and Geoff Johns, who will serve as Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment.
  10. Littleton, Cynthia (May 15, 2013). "Kevin Tsujihara Realigns Management of WB's TV, Home Entertainment Units". Variety. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. DC Entertainment prexy Diane Nelson adds oversight of the WB Interactive Entertainment unit overseeing its vidgame biz. She'll now have dual report to Tsujihara and motion picture group topper Jeff Robinov.
  11. Kit, Borys (July 17, 2013). "DC Entertainment Chief Reveals What's Next for Superman, Wonder Woman and 5 Superheroes Who Deserve Movies (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014.
  12. Wilson, Matt D. (November 4, 2013). "DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson Explains Why DC Comics Is Moving West". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on July 23, 2014.
  13. Fritz, Ben (November 4, 2013). "Why DC Entertainment is Leaving New York". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on April 10, 2014.
  14. Ching, Albert (June 13, 2014). "DC President Diane Nelson Says Female Representation a Priority". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 23, 2014.
  15. Goellner, Caleb (April 29, 2014). "DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson Names Wonder Woman A Favorite As Warner Bros. Overlooks A Movie". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014.
  16. McNary, Dave (August 28, 2015). "Diane Nelson Expands Role to Warner Bros. Consumer Products as Brad Globe Steps Down". Variety. Archived from the original on August 29, 2015.
  17. Lang, Brent (June 6, 2018). "Diane Nelson Out as DC Entertainment President". Variety. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  18. "Justice League Fights African Hunger Crisis in DC's 'We Can Be Heroes' Campaign". Comic Book Resources. January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. I'm proud and grateful we're able to harness the power and standing of the DC Comics brand and iconic characters as well as for the support from both Warner Bros. and Time Warner that has allowed us to pursue this unprecedented initiative.
  19. Horst, Carole; Graser, Marc (August 8, 2013). "Diane Nelson Leads Superheroes Fight Against Hunger". Variety. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013.
  20. "Board of Directors". There With Care. 2011. Archived from the original on May 11, 2014.
  21. Serrao, Nivea (October 13, 2016). "Wonder Woman named UN Honorary Ambassador for empowerment of women and girls". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017.
  22. "Wonder Woman Named the United Nations' Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls". Business Wire. October 21, 2016. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017.
  23. "The Hollywood Reporter's 2013 Women in Entertainment Power 100". The Hollywood Reporter. December 10, 2013. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014.
  24. Boccacino, John (July 25, 2017). "Four Accomplished Alumni to Receive Arents Awards During Orange Central". Syracuse University News. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017.
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