Disney Reorganizes Leadership of Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris

Two days ago Disney announced that Catherine Powell was “stepping down” after her position of President of Disney Parks West was “eliminated.” Normally an eliminated position means someone was fired, but sure, we’ll go with the PR spin.

Today three new people have been announced as her replacements according to CNBC:

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.
Walt Disney World Resort will be overseen by Josh D’Amaro, who previously was president of Disneyland Resorts.
The Disneyland Paris duties will be handed off to Michael Colglazier, who leads Disney parks and resorts in Asia.

Here’s where it gets strange. According to CNBC and Bob Chapek:

Powell’s position had initially been added just under two years ago when Disney began gearing up for the upcoming integration of its acquisition of Fox and its integration of consumer products — publishing, gaming and merchandise — into its park segment.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products, said the integration went so well that “what could have been a five-year mission turned out to be an 18-month mission.

Chapek said Powell’s departure was a mutual decision, as the role had become extraneous. Powell is a 15-year veteran of Disney and is highly thought of within the company, he said.”

Now D’Amaro was the President of Disneyland and is now being moved into running Walt Disney World.

Rebecca Campbell was President of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer Operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

George A. Kalogridis, who has been president of Disney World since 2013 has been promoted to the position of President of Disney Segment Development and Enrichment. He will also lead the Disney Institute.

I guess what is weird to me is the question of why?

Why would a 15-year veteran Disney executive step into a supposed 5-year position, with plans of staying that long, and then after 18-months, just leave? It was announced that the position was suddenly “eliminated,” but then split up to three other positions?

Chapek says this is just a return to the ways the parks were previously run, if so why wasn’t she just reassigned to another department? Is this all possible? Yes. Could she be a scapegoat for the bad decisions that were made on high? Again, yes. Plus it all comes right ahead of the end of the fiscal year/quarter for Disney. It’s all very, timely, but all speculation.

Whatever happened, we now have new “leadership” over the previously named Disney Parks West division. I hope it works out better. If nothing else I hope they realize that customers have limits, and with some of their decisions of late, they seem to have forgotten that.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!

Sources: CNBC, mynews13

Pirates & Princesses (PNP) is an independent, opinionated fan-powered news blog that covers Disney and Universal Theme Parks, Themed Entertainment and related Pop Culture from a consumer's point of view. Opinions expressed by our contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of PNP, its editors, affiliates, sponsors or advertisers. PNP is an unofficial news source and has no connection to The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal or any other company that we may cover.

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