Castellani worked for more than 20 years at The Walt Disney Co., most recently as CFO for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) has announced the appointment of Bryan Castellani as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective October 16. With over two decades of experience in the media and financial sectors, Castellani joins WMG from The Walt Disney Company, where he most recently served as CFO for Disney Entertainment and ESPN. Based in New York, Castellani will report directly to WMG’s CEO, Robert Kyncl. He succeeds Eric Levin, WMG’s long-standing CFO, who will remain on board to ensure a seamless transition before retiring in January.
Speaking about the new appointment, Kyncl said: “Bryan has wide-ranging experience helping one of the world’s most impactful creative enterprises build long-term value and unlock new global possibilities. A dynamic, operational CFO, he’ll be an excellent addition to our executive leadership team, as we grow the WMG of the future for the benefit of our artists, songwriters, investors, employees, and partners.”
Kyncl added: “I’d also like to express our gratitude to Eric for his near decade of service at WMG. He’ll leave with our deepest respect for his many contributions during an extraordinary period of growth that included WMG’s global expansion, numerous major acquisitions, and a successful IPO. We wish him all the best.”
Castellani stated: “I’m delighted to be joining WMG at such an exciting and pivotal time for the company and the music industry. Music is a powerful global force, unconstrained by any specific model or format, and has significant business upside. Robert’s vision for differentiating WMG is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to working with the leadership and finance teams to take the company to the next level in a rapidly evolving landscape.”
Before assuming the role of CFO for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, Castellani served as EVP of Finance for Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution (DMED), where he oversaw finance for the segment, as well as platform distribution, advertising sales, and networks businesses. He previously held the position of EVP and CFO of ESPN, where he played a vital role in programming, affiliate relations, and new business ventures, in addition to overseeing financial planning, strategy, and real estate functions. Castellani’s tenure at The Walt Disney Company also included roles such as SVP of Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis and VP & CFO of The Walt Disney Company Japan.
Throughout his career at The Walt Disney Company, Castellani held various financial and operational leadership roles, including SVP of Operations, Business Planning & Strategy for ABC News; VP and CFO of The Walt Disney Company Japan; and Head of Finance & Planning for Disney Consumer Products Japan. His experience also encompasses leadership positions at ABC News, the ABC Internet Group, and The Disney Store Japan. Castellani began his journey with Disney as a financial analyst for The Disney Store.
Before his time with The Walt Disney Company, Castellani worked in international finance at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC.
