Alessandro Brings Disney Marketing Magic to Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 27, 2015) — A senior marketing executive with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will deliver the first Irwin Warren Lecture in Advertising and Digital Media. The Warren Lecture is a new lecture series in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications in the College of Communication and Information.

Jim Alessandro is senior vice president, marketing and sales strategy for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. His lecture is titled “Walt Disney: A Visionary Marketer.” 

Alessandro’s talk will show the evolution of the Disney Parks and Resorts division, and how its growth and evolution to a global portfolio of family vacation experiences, designed to take families nearly anywhere in the world, is directly tied to Walt Disney’s original vision for the brand. His talk will reinforce concepts such as the importance of consumer centricity and how Disney uses it to drive enhancements for its business. Alessandro will also talk about both his own role and the role of the Disney Parks and Resorts’ marketing and sales organization in the process.

Alessandro holds a business degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

"It was a lecture during my junior year in college that confirmed my desire to pursue a career in marketing,” Alessandro said. “I’m honored to speak at the first Irwin Warren Lecture and hope that I can provide the same inspiration to others.”

Alessandro has been with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since 1993. He previously worked in advertising at Foote, Cone and Belding, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Price McNabb Communications.

“This new lecture series is a wonderful addition to our Integrated Strategic Communication program,” said Beth Barnes, director of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications. “We’re delighted to welcome Jim Alessandro to the University of Kentucky as our first speaker. Many of our students either have interned at Disney or hope to do so, and I know they will benefit from Mr. Alessandro’s insights.”

Alessandro’s lecture will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in the William T. Young Library auditorium.

The Irwin Warren Lecture in Advertising and Digital Media honors the memory of Warren who was the creator of some of the nation's most successful advertising campaigns. During an advertising career spanning more than 40 years, Warren worked at Doyle Dane Bernbach, BBDO and other leading agencies, before moving to McCann Erickson, the world's largest advertising agency, where he retired as senior creative director in 2006. The lecture series was established by Patrick Mutchler, a graduate of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications, who worked with Warren while in marketing with Johnson & Johnson.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Geegan, (859) 257-5365; sarah.geegan@uky.edu