Russell Hampton Email and Phone Number

Strategic consulting for companies across a range of industries, including media & entertainment, consumer products, education and publishing.

Created a company-wide strategy for the Kids & Family market. Responsible for leading the company’s Kids and Family business, encompassing Content Development (TV & Digital), Distribution and Downstream Monetization. Developed business plan to consolidate NBCU’s various consumer product units into one world-class organization in order to realize the full potential of the company’s IP in the merchandise licensing, gaming/mobile, publishing, retailing and educational markets. Successfully secured management approval and funding to purchase the 53% of Sprout (a leading children’s television channel) the company did not already own.

Responsible for the worldwide P&L, operations and strategic direction of Disney’s global publishing and learning businesses. DPW is the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines, creating and selling more than 700 million products each year, generating wholesale revenue of more than $2.5 billion. Oversaw more than 1500 employees and operations in more than 85 countries. Operated with multiple business models: vertical, licensing, direct to consumer, and joint ventures.Key business segments include the Disney Book Group, Disney Libri, Disney Hachette Press, Disney Libros, Disney Global Magazines, Disney Digital Books and Apps, Disney DigiComics, Marvel Press, Disney English, Disney Learning, Hyperion, Baby Einstein, The Family Fun Group and Disney Educational Prods.Net result of tenure was a business plan totally transforming DPW from an old-line print based publisher, to a leader in the fast growing digital and learning segments, with operating income growing over 300% after investment.Specific Accomplishments • Created and launched Disney English, a new English language learning business encompassing 50 owned and operated schools in 10 cities across China, a digital distance learning product and a world wide licensing business. Business plan calls for Disney English to contribute more than $1 billion in annual revenue by the end of the decade. Featured in numerous media, including profiles in Forbes, WSJ, The Financial Times, The Economist, CNBC and ABC News.• Spearheaded DPW’s move into digital publishing, and made it the #1 children’s publisher in the new media arena. Oversaw the creation of a wide range of innovative and award winning products in the app, digital book, digital magazine and digital comic segments. Recruited and built an in-house digital team across all key disciplines; creative, production, design, marketing and sales.

Managed Disney’s Global Home and Infant Business, and grew earned revenues by more than 20%. The Global Home business generates more than $3 billion in retail revenues through licensing agreements with some of the worlds leading manufacturers and retailers of products for home and infant products.

Assumed management of The Muppets acquired by The Walt Disney Company in April 2004. Assets included The Muppets (Kermit, Miss. Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, et al), as well as the pre-school franchise, Bear in the Big Blue House. Responsible for developing a strategy for re-launching and re-vitalizing both franchises in film, television, DVD, digital, live entertainment (including theme parks & resorts) and consumer products.Specific Accomplishments• Increased financial contribution by 100% in the first year of ownership.

Responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company since its acquisition by Disney in November 2001. Oversee all key areas including strategy, product development, sales and marketing, finance, international, and operations. Reported to the President of The Walt Disney Company.Specific Accomplishments• Grew retail sales from less than $25 mil to almost $500 mil, and generated over $150 mil in operating income in less than 4 years. • Led Baby Einstein video/DVD line to #1 market position in the U.S. Infant and Preschool categories. Drove US brand awareness to over 90% and ownership to 66% with Moms (with kids < 4 years old).• Expanded the brand into new categories including TV, books, music, toys, juvenile products, apparel, party goods, feeding and personal care products.• Tripled the size of the media library with 16 new film productions, 20 music titles and more than 100 books.• Introduced the brand into more than 20 international markets • Developed and launched a new pre-school franchise, Disney’s Little Einsteins, anchored by a new television series premiering on The Disney Channel in October 2005, and a broad-based merchandise program.

Responsible for evaluating and executing acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures across all of The Walt Disney Company’s business units. Duties also included initiating and directing the strategic analysis for Disney’s consumer products, retailing, e-commerce, gaming and publishing units and serving as the key liaison between Corporate and Divisional Management. Specific Transaction/Project Work• Negotiated the purchase of the The Baby Einstein Company. • Developed the business plan for the launch of Radio Disney in both North and South America.• Managed the purchase of 50% of US Magazine from Wenner Media • Executed the sale of Fairchild Communications (W, Women’s Wear Daily et al) to Conde Nast and Los Angeles Magazine to Emmis Communications.• Managed the divestiture of ABC Publishing. Analyzed all value maximizing strategies regarding ABC Publishing and presented findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors. Led a team of external advisors and internal management in selling ABC’s newspapers and magazines in nine separate sales with total gross proceeds exceeding $3.5 billion. • Developed a business plan for Disney-branded e-commerce. Structured and executed the merger of The Disney Catalog with The Disney Store Online. • Developed the business plan for Miramax’s Talk Magazine and negotiated a subsequent joint venture with Hearst Corporation.• Negotiated the sale of The Disney Store Japan, the largest “Western” specialty retailer operating in Japan.• Developed a business plan for the launch of ESPN Magazine in March of 1998.

Worked on a wide range of strategy consulting assignments for Fortune 100 companies.

Responsible for originating, structuring, and executing leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and acquisition financings, as well as for making direct equity investments in transactions.Worked on Capital Markets desk in both London and New York managing public and private debt issuance for large Corporate ClientsWorked in Corporate Finance Group covering Fortune 500 company across a range of industries.