DC named former Activision Blizzard executive Daniel Cherry as senior vice president and general manager, Warner Bros. has officially announced. In this newly-created role, Cherry will work alongside DC's chief creative officer/publisher Jim Lee, with them both reporting directly to Warner Bros. global brands and experience president Pam Lifford.
In this position, Cherry will have oversight of the following DC departments - business affairs, manufacturing, editorial, talent services, marketing, sales, brand and direct to consumer, and business development. He will also share business development duties with Anne DePies, DC's current senior VP of business strategy, finance, and administration.
Coinciding with Cherry joining DC and working closely with the new general manager, CCO/publisher Jim Lee will take on "expanded responsibilities surrounding the overall DC brand."
"Lee will bring his unmatched creativity, passion and innate knowledge of the DC characters and canon to the company’s efforts to evolve the brand and create relevance for new audiences around the world," reads Warner Bros.'s announcement.
Scheduled to begin work on September 8, Warner Bros. calls Cherry "an award-winning brand innovator and marketing executive" and comes to DC after nearly three years as the chief marketing officer of Activision Blizzard's esports division. Prior to that, he worked in marketing for the alcoholic beverage company Diageo and the sports teams the New Jersey Devils and New York Cosmos.
Cherry's hiring was formally announced just a few weeks after significant organizational changes within DC (and its parent company, Warner Media). Among the most significant was the layoff of longtime editor-in-chief Bob Harras, with editors Marie Javins and Michele Wells being named as interim replacements. At the same time, DC has been transitioning more into digital comics - where Cherry's Esports background could play in - and become more integrated into WarnerMedia's plans for DC's characters in other media.
"It’'s truly a career honor to partner with Pam Lifford, and the creative genius of Jim Lee, the amazing team at DC Comics and WarnerMedia to lead this iconic brand and legendary characters into the future, says Cherry in the official announcement. "I've been a huge fan since I first discovered the joy of comics from my father who collected Shazam oversized comics from the 1970s. I am standing on the shoulders of giants like Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Neal Adams Harry Lampert, and so many others. I’m especially proud to be continuing the legacy of fellow Ohioan and Cleveland native Jerry Siegel, who created Superman.
"While always respecting the past, I also think it's our responsibility to leverage the cultural power of DC Comics to entertain and inspire an increasingly diverse global fan base. Comics have the power to create unique imagery and narratives that can move the world toward a better, more inclusive version of itself. It's my sincere hope that I am able to contribute and help evolve the brand and its relevance for generations to come."
