Marvel Appoints Brad Winderbaum and David Abdo to Lead Comics and Franchise
Marvel has restructured its executive leadership by appointing Brad Winderbaum to oversee a consolidated Television, Animation, Comics, and Franchise division. David Abdo joins the company as General Manager, Comics & Franchise, while longtime executive Dan Buckley prepares for a 2027 departure.
RMN Stars Business Desk
New Delhi | May 19, 2026
Marvel has officially named Brad Winderbaum as Head of Marvel Television, Animation, Comics & Franchise, significantly expanding his creative oversight within the company. In this expanded role, Winderbaum will manage the creative direction of Marvel’s publishing portfolio and global brand efforts, in addition to his ongoing responsibilities for television and animation series for Disney+. C.B. Cebulski, Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, will now report directly to Winderbaum.
Joining Winderbaum’s leadership team is David Abdo, who has been appointed General Manager, Comics & Franchise. Abdo transitions to Marvel from Disney Music Group, where he served as General Manager and was credited with driving record-breaking profit years and significant digital expansion. With over 20 years of experience in media business transformation, Abdo will focus on operational excellence and strategic growth.
“Brad’s exceptional creative leadership and David’s deep experience in operations and digital innovation will be a powerful pairing as we begin building out the next 90 years of Marvel’s comic book legacy.” — Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios and Chief Creative Officer, Marvel
This leadership shift comes as Dan Buckley, the longtime head of Comics & Franchise and a Marvel veteran of nearly 30 years, announces his plans to depart. Buckley is expected to remain in his current capacity through mid-2027 to support a stable transition for the new leadership team. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige credited Buckley with expanding Marvel’s reach into video games and television while overseeing era-defining comic events such as Civil War and Secret Wars.
“Dan has left a lasting mark on Marvel’s legacy and on the comics industry, and I’m deeply grateful to him and pleased we will have his full support through this transition.” — Kevin Feige
Winderbaum, an Emmy Award winner, has been with Marvel Studios since its first theatrical release, Iron Man. His portfolio includes executive producing high-profile series such as Loki, X-Men ’97, and Daredevil: Born Again. Feige noted that the combination of Winderbaum’s creative storytelling and Abdo’s operational track record is designed to secure the “next 90 years of Marvel’s comic book legacy.”
