Former Disney Executive Kristin Nolt Wingard Joins as Senior Advisor
ROKK Solutions announced today that seasoned former Disney public affairs strategist Kristin Nolt Wingard has joined the firm as a Senior Advisor.
With more than 30 years of high-level experience advising CEOs and elected officials in Washington, DC and California, developing new market entry strategies, positioning companies and managing issues, Kristin is based in California representing ROKK with clients who have business interests on the West Coast and on a national level.
“Kristin is a battle-tested strategic advisor, and a great friend,” said Co-Founder and Partner Ron Bonjean. “She has held demanding leadership roles in both the public and private sectors and brings to ROKK a breadth and depth of experience that will greatly benefit our clients.”
“We are so excited to have Kristin join our team,” said Partner Kristen Hawn. “She understands the intersection of business, policy, and politics, and how effective public affairs and communications strategies can engage stakeholders, win debates, protect brands and enhance reputations.”
As founder and president of her own consultancy, Kristin provides C-suite executives and companies with expertise on strategic communications, issues/reputation management, executive and company positioning and leadership consulting
Before starting her own company five years ago, Kristin spent 14 years in top public affairs and communications roles at The Walt Disney Company. She ran worldwide public affairs and communications for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts during one of its largest periods of growth and expansion, and was a trusted advisor to two different chairmen. Kristin led external communications, public relations, media events, internal communications, executive communications, government and industry relations, community relations and corporate citizenship, managing a team of more than 500 people spanning six locations around the globe.
While at Disney, she also devised multi-year strategies that positioned brands, enhanced the company’s reputation on a national and global scale and drove sustainable business growth. Kristin also has mitigated complex, high-profile issues and crises — often managing several simultaneously around the world. Additionally, she spent eight years working on Shanghai Disney Resort, from the entry into mainland China and groundbreaking to the grand opening and first year of operations.
Prior to her promotion to the global Disney role, Kristin was SVP, Public Affairs for the Disneyland Resort for six years. She has served on the boards and executive committees of non-profit, industry and government organizations.
Before being recruited to Disney, she spent 12 years in senior roles on and off Capitol Hill. Kristin was head of marketing, communications and media relations at the National Restaurant Association and was a legislative assistant, press secretary and campaign manager for former Delaware Governor and U.S. Congressman Mike Castle, working in both his gubernatorial and congressional offices.
