PR agency veteran and former Disney communications executive Joe Quenqua has joined 42west as a managing director in the Los Angeles office, 42West co-CEOs Leslee Dart, Amanda Lundberg and Allan Mayer announced Monday.
Quenqua assumes his new role effective immediately, and he will oversee teams on both coasts to expand the company’s offerings in filmed and digital content, as well as live events. He will work alongside managing directors Susan Ciccone, Linda Guerrero, Tom Piechura, Sarah Rothman, Amanda Silverman and Meredith O’Sullivan Wasson.
He most recently served as executive vice president at Dan Klores Communications (DKC), heading both the firm’s national entertainment practice and its Los Angeles operations. In that role, Quenqua built and led a bicoastal team as well, executing corporate and consumer campaigns for major clients such as Amazon Studios, Netflix, HBO, The Walt Disney Company, Viacom, NBC/Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Conde Nast Entertainment and Relativity Media. He was also integral in the creation of DKC/O&M, the PR industry’s first national Broadway and live events division.
Prior to DKC, Quenqua spent 11 years at Walt Disney Studios, where he led the national media strategies across all film titles and brands including Pixar, Marvel, DreamWorks and all Disney live-action and animation. He also served concurrently as head of global communications and worldwide publicity for Disney Theatrical Group.
And before Disney, Quenqua served as vice president of film in the New York office of MPRm Public Relations, where he lead both theatrical release and award campaigns for studios and independent distributors. Earlier, he spent several years at PMK Public Relations, working for Dart on film projects while managing his personal roaster of actors, writers, directors and producers.
“Joe’s many years of experience in the film world, not to mention his recent success in the digital, streaming and live events spaces, make him a formidable addition to our staff,” Dart, Lundberg and Mayer said in a joint statement. “We are thrilled to welcome him to the 42West family.”
“I have had the honor of enjoying both personal and professional relationships with Leslee and Amanda for more than two decades,” added Quenqua. “I am extremely grateful to both of them, along with Allan, for giving me the opportunity to join and help build this already world-class team.”