Bob Chapek, the Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company, announced today that Walt Disney World President Josh D’Amaro would be filling his former position as Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. The announcement came along with several others affecting both Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland Resort President Rebecca Campbell will become the Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer and International, replacing Kevin Mayer who left the company to head TikTok. Both Campbell and D’Amaro will report directly to Chapek.
Chapek said of the promotions:
Our company is very fortunate to have a deep bench of talent and we’re extremely pleased to welcome these two exceptionally qualified Disney veterans to our senior management team. Both Josh and Rebecca have more than two decades of leadership experience with the Company, a keen understanding of our brands and businesses, and a shared passion and vision for delivering extraordinary entertainment and one-of-a-kind experiences.
Chapek also said of D’Amaro:
Josh is an exceptionally talented, enthusiastic and innovative leader, consistently delivering strong results while demonstrating his unwavering commitment and care for our cast members, and a genuine appreciation for the importance of the Disney Difference to our guests. I am certain he will take Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products segment – home to some of our company’s most iconic and beloved businesses – to exciting new heights in the years to come.
In his response, D’Amaro stated:
I want to thank Bob for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to following his record of driving innovation, value and growth as we deliver unforgettable experiences for our guests. It is an incredible honor to lead our team of talented and dedicated cast members around the globe, who go above-and-beyond every single day. Even during this challenging time, their enthusiasm for what we do is unwavering, and my goal is to bring our cast members back to work as soon as possible so they can continue to create that magic.
In addition to the new positions for D’Amaro and Campbell, Chapek announced that President of Disney Signature Experiences Jeff Vahle will become President of the Walt Disney World Resort and President of Consumer Products Ken Potrock moves to President of the Disneyland Resort.
Vahle said of the announcement:
With Walt Disney World approaching its 50th anniversary, there could not be a more gratifying time to be selected for this role and to work with the incredible team responsible for creating magical memories for millions of guests each year. I plan to continue to build on the momentum from Josh’s tenure, bringing even more innovative entertainment and experiences to our guests.
Potrock talked about the responsibility of leading Walt’s park:
I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the remarkable team at Walt Disney’s original park. This Resort holds a special place in the hearts of our Guests around the world – a responsibility that we all take very seriously, and we will continue to build on that foundation by delivering unforgettable experiences, while creating memories that last a lifetime.
Finally, Chapek named Kareem Daniel President of Consumer Products, Games and Publishing, plus Thomas Mazloum as President of Disney Signature Experiences, which includes Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney.
Source: The Walt Disney Company / New York Times
Image: Disney/Josh D’Amaro
Tom is the host and producer of the DIS Unplugged: Disneyland Edition podcast, plus Disneyland Editor of The DIS. He enjoys traveling with his wife and teenage son. At this point, their favorite destination is Alaska, with a FIFTH cruise there planned for the Summer of 2019. In his spare time he volunteers with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, and help found his son's former Cub Scout Pack. His favorite Disneyland attraction is Space Mountain.
