The shakeup of the corporate structure continues at The Walt Disney Company, specifically in the Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products division. Disneyland and Walt Disney World will see new Presidents in the coming weeks, with George Kalogridis, the current Walt Disney World President, moving to a new role.
Current Disneyland President Josh D’Amaro will move to Walt Disney Word to oversee that resort. Rebecca Campbell, current head of Europe, Middle East and Africa segment of Direct-to-Consumer, will be promoted to President of the Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland Paris will be handed off to Michael Colglazier, current lead for Parks in Asia. Current leadership in Disneyland Paris otherwise remains unchanged, with Colglazier taking on the additional role of Disneyland Paris management. George Kalogridis, current President of Walt Disney World, will be promoted to President of Disney Segment Development and Enrichment.
All this comes after recent changes in management with Catherine Powell leaving her role as President of Disney Parks West, with that position being eliminated.
Here’s the full description of the changes from CNBC:
Going forward, Disneyland Resort will be overseen by Rebecca Campbell, who most recently was president of Europe, Middle East and Africa for the company’s direct-to-consumer and international segment. She has more than 20 years of experience with the company.
Walt Disney World Resort will be led by Josh D’Amaro, who previously was president of Disneyland Resorts.
Campbell and D’Amaro will assume their new roles starting in November.
The Disneyland Paris duties will be handed off to Michael Colglazier, who leads Disney parks and resorts in Asia. Colglazier has been with Disney for more than 30 years.
In addition, Disney has promoted George Kalogridis, who has led Walt Disney World Resort since 2013, to the role of president of Disney segment development and enrichment. He will also lead the Disney Institute. Kalogridis started his career at Disney as an original cast member from Walt Disney World’s opening in 1971. He has been with the company for nearly 50 years.
Kalogridis will use his operational knowledge from nearly five decades at Disney to put together a set of best practices for site leads that have less experience.
“George really wants to make sure he’s doing everything he can for the segment,” Chapek said, noting that he is a valuable asset to the company’s growth.
Powell’s sudden departure had many speculating that she was leaving the company after lackluster attendance at Disney’s new Star Wars-themed lands at Disneyland and Disney World. Chapekcalled the reports “erroneous.”
“I will tell you that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has exceeded every expectation we’ve had,” Chapek said. “There is no there there to this being anything but a runaway success.”
Well I hope Josh brings some parades with him to WDW when he leaves Disneyland.
Also more focus on character interaction with guests
Here’s what really happened: Chapek pins financial failures on others, leading to their eventual firings. Chapek head-nodders get promoted. Financial situation does not change.
The Peter principle states that a person who is competent at their job will earn promotion to a more senior position which requires different skills. … The “Peter Principle” is therefore expressed as: “In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.” (Wikipedia)
Chapek really is the worst thing that has ever happened to the Disney parks. He’s a number cruncher and a merchandiser. He cares nothing for guest experience or loyalty. He has zero respect for the cast members who are the heart and soul of guest experience. He’s going to squeeze the magic out of the parks while charging a premium for 1/4 of the experience. As much as my family and I love Disney, we dislike what Bob Chapek has done to the point that we are ready to boycott and take our vacation dollars elsewhere. He really has a way of making you feel disrespected. And Galaxy’s edge has exceeded expectation has it? Oh the LIES. Unless their expectations were completely empty parks and zero interest. In which case…they are almost there. Ugh. He’s just a used car salesman. Catherine Powell should have been promoted after Chapek was booted for epic failure in all areas.
” Powell’s sudden departure had many speculating that she was leaving the company after lackluster attendance at Disney’s new Star Wars-themed lands at Disneyland and Disney World. Chapek called the reports “erroneous.”
“I will tell you that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has exceeded every expectation we’ve had,” Chapek said. “There is no there there to this being anything but a runaway success.”
If these are the kind of responses I would get from speculating about the higher ups of the company whose things that I say that I love
then I would just shut up and never talk about the higher ups in public even like this again .
It’s like getting spanked for talking negative rumors about a loved one because every time you talk crap rumors about Disney
Disney responds with a tail whippin` and hands your tails back to you .
My advice , I think it’s time for you all to learn when and where to CHILLAX .
Chapek and Iger are the ones that should be fired and no GE is not a runaway success. Stop the bull and fix the problems.
ALL THAT MEANS IS THERE GETTING A PROMOTIONS AND HIGHER SALARYS AND THE ANNUAL PASSES ARE GOING UP BECAUSE THEY PASS THE BUCK TO THE GUESS AND FAMILY’S TO STUFF THERE POCKETS
Kalogridis will use his operational knowledge from nearly five decades at Disney to put together a set of best practices for site leads that have less experience.
“So this means Cutting night parades, staff and Entertainment PAYROLL and charging a higher admission price?”
This site doesn’t allow real Floridians to post
Sorry, just scrolled down and saw it. My Bad!!
I love Star Wars, but Galaxy’s Edge is boring. It’s at the back of the park and there’s a whole heck of a lot more for us to do before we make it that far, which means we don’t go now. The food isn’t compelling enough. There aren’t any shows. They could have built additional small rides for kids, like Mater’s Jamboree with Speeder Bikes, or ANYTHING, and had a really cool daily show. There’s nothing for my 6 and 8 year old to do other than get back on the one ride we’ve already been on, which they don’t love, so why would I come back to that land? I don’t want to build or buy drones or lightsabers or eat sometimes warm ronto meat.
Personally, I think the Disney management has been arrogant for a long time, doing what they want without considering what people say, and now it’s coming back to bite them in the butt.
“Danger Disney, Danger Disney. Your arrogance is coming back to bite you in the butt!” (Lost in Space robot)
Bring back all the benches and seating you took away. We don’t shop more or spend more money without them. We leave early because we ache and hurt from not being able to rest a bit throughout the long day. Wake up Disney management. Not all guest are able to sit on the curb to watch the parades.