Curtin had run the Muppets since the Walt Disney Co. bought them from the Jim Henson Co. in April 2004, though he was let go from that position when the unit was folded on a more formal basis into Disney's consumer products division. A onetime special assistant to former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, Curtin's new role will have him directing marketing initiatives with a new-media twist, including advertising the Disney theme parks on TiVo and mobile devices. In an internal memo distributed to parks and resorts employees, Curtin was credited with ensuring "the successful launch of several motion pictures, cable channels, theme parks and attractions, fall television lineups, and consumer-product lines" while vp corporate synergy and special projects, a position he held before his Muppets assignment.

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