March 12 (Reuters) - Walt Disney ( DIS ) has named

25-year company veteran Paul Roeder as senior executive vice

president and chief communications officer, effective March 19,

the media giant said on Thursday.

The appointment marks one of the recent changes to Disney's ( DIS )

top leadership team since the company named Josh D'Amaro as its

new top boss last month, succeeding longtime CEO Bob Iger.

Roeder most recently served as executive vice president of

communications for Disney Entertainment Studios,

Direct-to-Consumer, and International.

He will report to incoming chief executive D'Amaro, handling

worldwide communications and serving as Disney's ( DIS ) lead

spokesperson.

"He has a passion for Disney ( DIS ) and a deep understanding of

what it stands for, and I know he'll do an outstanding job

leading our exceptional Communications teams worldwide," D'Amaro

said.

Roeder joined Disney's ( DIS ) ABC communications team in 2001 and

has led communications for Disney Studios since 2010, spanning

the acquisitions of Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox.