by Thinus Ferreira
The true ending of an epoch: the absolutely beloved Christine Service, general manager of direct-to-consumer (DTC) and country manager for sub-Saharan Africa at The Walt Disney Company, is exiting after 27 years at Disney, 23 of which she spent at Disney in Africa.
The illustrious, highly respected and extraordinary Mouse House maestro built out Disney in Africa and all its brands over two decades into a highly desirable want-to-have under consumers of all ages - from TV to film, and retail to corporate social responsibility and DTC like Disney+ - ever since she first moved to South Africa in 2003.
The highly regarded Christine Service - essentially South Africa's Fairy Godmother of Entertainment - will exit Disney in the spring.
If Disney in South Africa were a highly desirable private school where everything was just better, brilliant, ran perfectly and seemed absolutely immaculate down to the finest details, Christine Service was the efficient, respected, highly capable, friendly and trusted principal managing all the magic with the sway of a hand.
"It has been the privilege of a lifetime to be part of the exceptional EMEA Disney team and to lead the company's business on the African continent," says Christine Service.
"I have decided that it is now time to pass the baton to a new leader of The Walt Disney Company in Africa. Disney Africa is a dynamic, successful, and growing business, and I am excited to see my successor, together with the phenomenal Africa team, continue to take it from strength to strength."
Tony Chambers, The Walt Disney Company EMEA president, says "Christine has been an invaluable part of our leadership team".
"After 27 years at The Walt Disney Company, most recently as general manager, DTC & Networks and country manager sub-Saharan Africa, she has decided to embark on new adventures. Under Christine's leadership, Disney in Africa grew into the dynamic business that it is today; well-positioned for long-term growth. I wish her nothing but continued success in her exciting new chapter."
Over decades in South Africa, Christine Service has been an immutable, ever-present presence wherever Disney brought its dazzle.
Disney launching its multiplex of linear TV channels on MultiChoice's DStv? There's Christine Service.
Disney launching Disney+ in 2022 in South Africa? There's Christine Service.
Disney doing unrivalled upfronts presentations showcasing upcoming TV and film to the media, advertisers and retail partners? There's Christine Service, perpetually behind the podium doling out pure magic like Mickey Mouse in Fantasia.
Christine Service joined Disney in 1998 and served as vice-president of ventures and business development in WDI Television in London.
Then, bravely, she moved to South Africa in 2003 and set about establishing what is now referred to as the Disney Entertainment business in Johannesburg - aligning with the already-established Cape Town DCP (Disney Consumer Products) office, to create a fully integrated Disney business serving Sub-Saharan Africa.
The expansion of Disney's pan-African multiplex of linear TV channels followed, with channels like Fox, National Geographic and ESPN and she was part of the team that launched the first run of The Lion King stage show in South Africa (which remains the greatest-attended theatrical production in South African history).
Christine Service then oversaw the integration of the Fox TV Networks business locally into Disney Africa in 2019, launched Disney+ in 2022, and expanded Disney's footprint across East, West and Southern Africa.
She also oversaw local programming initiatives that includes the first-ever National Geographic long-form TV series for kids on the continent (Team Sayari) as well as various short and long-form shows for Disney Channel – as well as local language-dubbed versions of Doc McStuffins (Sotho) and The Lion Guard (Zulu).
Besides all this, the truly indefatigable Christine Service oversaw the establishment of the formal CSR business in South Africa, including the 10-year Disney Healthy Happy Play Program, that will reach a milestone of impacting 200 000 children in 2025.
Christine Service also led the team in obtaining a remarkable run at the African box offices that includes 4 of the top 5 films of all time in Southern Africa - as well as 4 of the top 10 and 4 of the top 5 films of all time in East and West Africa.
Disney in South Africa has 60 employees and 2 offices based in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The Walt Disney Company Africa distributes six linear TV channels across Africa through affiliate broadcasters such as MultiChoice Group, StarTimes, Azam and Wananchi, reaching millions of viewers each day.
Christine Service's work ethic, approach, impact and the way she truly knew everything and engaged with everyone set her miles apart and ahead of her contemporaries in the business. South Africa's TV and film biz will never see someone like her again.
On a personal note:
When I think of Christine Service, I think of someone - in what is such a transient and fickle industry - who is truly the embodiment and personification of a highly self-actualised leader and high EQ individual with the power to inspire.
In a sense, Christine Service is the very real-world embodiment of when you think back on who your "most favourite teacher" was at school, with the perfect mix of always speaking with knowledge and authority, insight and inspiration.
Christine Service didn't "sell" anything ever - she didn't have to.
Like an inspiring teacher, she simply kept opening up the world of Disney to an ever-growing consumer audience and trade - not making a case but simply showcasing why Disney and its multiple brands deserve attention and time.
I've travelled with Christine Service across Africa once and had many conversations and many laughs over many years at events and red carpets and media launch events, where she somehow finds real time to really talk to everyone.
The person she is when she tells a crowd about Marvel and Star Wars and Sofia the First during a presentation is exactly the same person when you're sitting next to her, waiting for your next flight, to the next place together.
Christine Service knows everybody and over the years fully ascended to true A-lister status among South African showbiz cognoscenti. And yet, you'd almost have to drag Christine into the limelight where she rightly belongs.
Once, at one of the numerous A-lister Disney media events, standing behind the red velvet rope as a journalist who forever tries to capture it all, I was focused on the red carpet and the step-and-repeat banner in front of me, when who I spotted walking up behind me, who decided to take the non-celebrity, non pose-and-smile route to a venue's entrance?
"No Christine," I said. "Please. You belong on this side. Very please can you go around and walk on the red carpet because we need some photos?"
And indeed she did and then got to me again. And quipped: "I'm not really one of the famous ones here."
And again her arm went out as she swayed it like Yen Sid (Disney spelled backwards) in Fantasia - that powerful sorcerer and mentor, with a lot of patience, who always shows up and who you just know will always fix everything.
"It's really for them all," she said as she motioned to the glitterati alongside her, "to experience what we do at Disney".
