LOS ANGELES—The Walt Disney Company has named Kathryn Kranhold as senior vice president of corporate communications, reporting to Zenia Mucha, the company's executive vice president of corporate communications.

In her new role, Kranhold will help oversee corporate communications strategy on issues relating to financial reporting, legal matters, reputation management and executive communications. She will also work with Disney divisions such as parks and resorts, media networks, consumer products, studio entertainment and interactive media.

Kranhold joins Disney from Brunswick Group where she worked with clients on crisis, litigation and financial communications. Prior to that, she was with Sard Verbinnen & Co. advising clients on corporate and financial communications, including litigation, financial transactions, management transitions and corporate positioning.

From 1996-2008, Kranhold was a writer for The Wall Street Journal, covering finance, law, advertising, energy and healthcare.