Disney EVP Communications Bulochnikov-Paul Departing — SkimNews
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- Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul is departing as EVP Communications for Disney Entertainment Television after eight years, announcing in a team memo that she's leaving "to pursue a new opportunity"
- Bulochnikov-Paul's rise spanned three promotions — from VP Communications at Freeform in March 2017, to SVP of Communications for ABC Entertainment in 2019, to EVP Publicity for ABC & General Entertainment in 2021, to EVP Publicity and Head of Communications for Disney General Entertainment in 2023
- She briefly left Disney for a nine-month stint at Netflix in 2018 before returning to Freeform in October of that year, and later led executive communications for Dana Walden throughout Walden's tenure as co-chairman of Disney Entertainment
- Disney restructured Bulochnikov-Paul's position in April under new CEO Josh D'Amaro, shifting her reporting to DET Chairman Debra OConnell and Chief Communications Officer Paul Roeder, with day-to-day comms for Walden passing to EVP April Carretta
- Her exit is unrelated to Disney's recent voluntary early retirement package offers — she wasn't eligible due to her age and tenure — or to the prior day's Disney layoffs, which did not impact DET
- Bulochnikov-Paul navigated high-profile crises including Jimmy Kimmel's brief suspension in fall 2025 and ABC's standoff with the FCC over the Commission's demand for an early broadcast license review
- Earlier this year, Bulochnikov-Paul — who lives with multiple sclerosis — received the Medal of Hope Award from Race to Erase MS for her advocacy work
Why it matters: Walden, now Disney President and Chief Creative Officer, loses her lead communications partner after years of close collaboration, while DET communications consolidates under OConnell and Roeder at a moment when the unit is still managing the fallout from Kimmel's suspension and an ongoing FCC fight. The clean voluntary exit — explicitly unconnected to layoffs or early retirement offers — underscores that Disney is still working through executive transitions under new CEO D'Amaro.
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