From his days as a DU undergrad to his current position as head of Asia-Pacific for Walt Disney and Company, Brother Niermann has always been a success.
However, as a Kappa Sigma, Brother Niermann is known among pledge brothers as one of the most influential leaders of his era.
“He was a conduit; he always had a way of rallying people up to get things done. He was definitely a great leader,” said pledge brother Daniel Corbett.
Corbett added that Brother Niermann’s knack for rallying the troops was crucial in those days, when Beta-Omicron was in a fierce race with other fraternities at DU to be known as the best house on campus.
Brother Niermann took the House Vice President seat during his sophomore year. He was also very active in intramural sports. However, Brother Niermann brought one of the most invaluable elements which is crucial to happiness in a house full of guys, Brother Corbett said.
“He was always making people laugh with his impersonations and skits he would do,” Corbett said.
Brother Niermann was also very involved in student leadership, no doubt a man who could earn the vote of any other undergrad.
However, Brother Nierman’s glory days as an undergraduate had to end sometime. He graduated in 1988 with a degree in finance. He quickly picked up a job with DDB Needham Advertising in Denver.
After five years there, Brother Niermann joined Disney as Affiliating Marketing Representative for The Disney Channel in Dallas, Texas. In 1991, he relocated to The Disney Channel’s Corporate Headquarters in Burbank, Calif., where he held a series of positions over four years.
Brother Niermann was then named Disney’s Vice President of Communications and Marketing until relocating to Hong Kong in 1998 as Head of Walt Disney Television International Marketing. In March 2000, Brother Niermann was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Walt Disney International Asia-Pacific and he was elevated to head of Asia-Pacific for the Walt Disney Company in May 2001.
With Disney, he is responsible for the strategic direction and integration of Disney’s combined business activities across the Asia-Pacific region as well as all new business development for the company, live entertainment, and corporate functions within the region.
He also oversees Country Managers around the region, including Australia, Taiwan, Korea, Chinca and emerging Markets (ASEAN and India). The business integration across all Disney business units includes movies, television, products, attractions, on-line/wireless, interactive, publishing and music.
Under his direction, the new Hong Kong Disneyland is scheduled to open in 2005.
Brother Niermann married a Delta Zeta, Stacey Strahs, and has two daughters, Sydney and Delaney. They live in Hong Kong.
