Marvel has announced a major shift in leadership across its comics and franchise divisions, with Brad Winderbaum taking on an expanded role as Head of Marvel Television, Animation, Comics & Franchise. In this position, Winderbaum will guide the creative direction of Marvel’s publishing line and broader brand efforts while continuing to oversee television and animation.
Joining him is David Abdo, who steps in as General Manager of Comics & Franchise after moving over from Disney. Abdo will report directly to Winderbaum and focus on operations and growth across Marvel’s publishing and franchise initiatives. Meanwhile, longtime Marvel executive Dan Buckley has announced plans to depart after nearly 30 years with the company. Buckley will remain in place through mid-2027 to help ensure a smooth transition.
Kevin Feige shared his confidence in the new leadership team. “Brad’s exceptional creative leadership and David’s deep experience in operations and digital innovation will be a powerful pairing as we begin building out the next 90 years of Marvel’s comic book legacy,” he said. “Brad brings a proven ability to lead creative teams and craft ongoing, episodic narratives that resonate with our fans around the world, while David offers a strong track record of operational excellence and strategic growth. I’m excited for what they’ll be able to do together.”
Winderbaum has played a key role in Marvel’s recent television and animation efforts, serving as an executive producer across multiple Disney+ projects. He has been involved with Marvel Studios since its early days, beginning during the production of Iron Man and later contributing to films like Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow. Under this new structure, Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski will report to Winderbaum.
Abdo brings more than two decades of experience in media and digital strategy. Most recently, he served as General Manager of Disney Music Group, where he oversaw global operations and led a period of strong growth for the division.
Feige also reflected on Buckley’s impact during his tenure:
“From events like Civil War, Secret Wars, X-Men: Age of Krakoa, and the soon-to-be-released Marvel Midnight imprint, to the expansion into video games, television, animation and more, Marvel’s influence on popular culture expanded under Dan’s leadership, bringing our characters and stories to new fans around the world. Dan has left a lasting mark on Marvel’s legacy and on the comics industry, and I’m deeply grateful to him and pleased we will have his full support through this transition.”
Marvel
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