Disney TV communications chief Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul exits after eight years
Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul is leaving Disney after eight years as its top television publicist.
The executive vice-president for communications at Disney Entertainment Television told her team in a memo she was exiting to pursue a new opportunity, as first reported in an exclusive by Deadline on 30 September. Details of her next job are expected to be announced soon.
Her exit was on her own accord and unrelated to the company’s current restructuring, according to Variety, which also reported the departure on 30 September. That distinction matters in Hollywood. A restructuring exit means a role was cut. A voluntary exit means the executive chose to go.
Bulochnikov-Paul ran press and publicity for Disney Entertainment Television, the division that houses ABC, FX, Hulu Originals and National Geographic Content. Her remit covered ABC Entertainment, ABC News, Disney Kids and Family, Disney Television Studios, FX, Hulu Originals and National Geographic Content, as well as platform distribution and Disney Global Advertising. She also handled executive communications for Dana Walden while Walden served as Disney Entertainment co-chairman.
She joined Disney in March 2017 as vice-president of communications at Freeform, just after the cable channel rebranded from ABC Family. She spearheaded the first-ever Freeform Summit in January 2018. She then left for a nine-month stint at Netflix before returning to Freeform in October 2018.
Promotions followed quickly. She became senior vice-president of communications for ABC Entertainment in 2019. She rose to executive vice-president of publicity for ABC and General Entertainment in 2021. In 2023 she was named executive vice-president of publicity and head of communications for Disney General Entertainment.
In April this year she remained as executive vice-president, Communications, Disney Entertainment Television, reporting to Disney Entertainment Television Chairman Debra OConnell and Disney chief communications officer Paul Roeder. At that point, day-to-day communications work for Walden passed to executive vice-president April Carretta.
Before Disney, Bulochnikov-Paul began her career at MTV Networks and held communications roles at Sony Pictures Television and Current TV. Outside work, she has spoken publicly about battling multiple sclerosis. She was set to receive a Medal of Hope at the 33rd annual Race to Erase MS Gala in 2026, according to reports in April by The Hollywood Reporter and Yahoo.
