Zenia Mucha
zenia-mucha-2024-influence-100

Zenia Mucha

Chief Brand & Communications Officer
TikTok
US

 

Zenia Mucha was a mainstay of the Influence 100 list during her tenure at Disney, where she was well known for her contentious style in defending the storied brand and wielding power that went beyond leading comms. At the entertainment giant, Mucha had overall responsibility for communications policies and strategic positioning at The Walt Disney Company and its diverse global businesses, including media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment and consumer products. She served as the chief spokesperson for company and oversaw media relations and communications strategy for the company, its various business segments and its philanthropic and environmental initiatives.

Mucha started working with TikTok after she left Disney after 20 years at the end of 2021, along with several other senior leaders, in conjunction with the departure of executive chairman Bob Iger. In early 2023, Mucha was reportedly part of a team of advisors who coached TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew for a congressional hearing, during which legislators grilled him for hours about the safety and security of the platform. Under threat of a ban, TikTok in June of that year hired Mucha as chief brand and communications officer; Chew made her charge clear: “Installing Mucha is a key step as the company looks to counter growing criticism on many fronts due to its parent company’s roots in China and claims that it serves up inappropriate content to children and lets objectionable videos circulate.”

Before joining Disney in 2001, Mucha served as senior VP of communications for the ABC Broadcast Group and the ABC Television and earlier as director of communications and senior policy advisor to Governor George Pataki of New York.