RWS Global names Disney veteran Matt Conover as global production president

RWS Global has hired longtime Disney executive Matt Conover as Divisional President, Global Production to help steer the company’s expanding international live-entertainment business. The move adds a veteran production leader to a company that says it delivers more than one million live moments a day across more than 50 countries.

Why it matters: - RWS Global is adding a senior production leader as it expands the scale and complexity of its live-entertainment work. - The role is intended to strengthen operational leadership across a broad international production slate. - Conover brings more than 37 years at The Walt Disney Company, including decades of executive production experience on global live experiences.

What happened: - RWS Global announced that Matt Conover has joined the company as Divisional President, Global Production. - Conover will be based at RWS Global’s New York City headquarters. - The appointment was announced July 28, 2026. - Conover spent 37 years at The Walt Disney Company before joining RWS Global.

The details: - Conover started at Walt Disney World in 1989 as a stage technician. - His Disney career included leadership roles at Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland Resort, and Walt Disney Imagineering. - His production work covered the U.S., Asia and Europe. - He most recently served as Vice President, Disney Live Entertainment at Disneyland Resort. - In that role, he led more than 400 producers, directors, designers and technical professionals. - RWS Global said the new job will cover production strategy, planning and company-wide execution. - Conover will work with creative, business and operational teams from development through delivery. - Jake McCoy, RWS Global’s interim CEO, said Conover’s experience will help the company strengthen systems, processes and creative collaboration while it grows. - Conover’s live-production credits include two Super Bowl halftime shows and the NBA All-Star Games. - Conover also partnered with the Savannah Bananas on live activations across the United States. - Conover has chaired the Educational Theatre Foundation board of trustees since 2017. - Conover also spent nearly 10 years on the Educational Theatre Association’s board. - Conover holds a BFA in Technical Theatre from SUNY Purchase.

Between the lines: - The hire signals that RWS Global is leaning on senior operator talent to support growth across parks, sports, theater, cruise lines, destinations and brand activations. - Conover’s background suggests RWS Global wants leadership that can scale complex live experiences without losing consistency. - The company is positioning its production business around both creative development and operational discipline.

What's next: - Conover will help oversee future projects from early planning through final delivery. - RWS Global is likely to use the role to support continued international expansion. - The company says it creates more than one million live moments every day across more than 50 countries. - RWS Global employs more than 8,000 individuals and performers worldwide.