There have been a number of changes made within the last several months and years when it comes to leadership within the Walt Disney Company.
©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters
Bob Iger has officially left the company after most recently working as Executive Chairman, some Imagineers have left, and Disney even hired a new spokesperson with political experience. But now things are changing again.
According to Deadline, after less than 4 months on the job, Geoff Morrell will be leaving his position as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. Disney CEO Bob Chapek sent a memorandum out today regarding this change.
In the memo, Chapek noted that Morrell would be leaving to “pursue other opportunities.” In an email sent from Morrell, Morrell himself shared, “After three months in this new role, it has become clear to me that for a number of reasons it is not the right fit.”
Earlier this year, Morrell tweeted (and swiftly deleted) the opening date for the Guardians of the Galaxy ride coming to EPCOT prior to its official announcement, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
©Walt Disney Company
According to Deadline, Chapek’s memo noted that “the strength and experience of our existing leadership team—including relatively new all-star hires—means there is no shortage of talent to guide our reputation-driving functions.”
He then went on to note who will be taking over Morrell’s role. First we have Kristina Schake. Schake has experience in the Obama and Biden administrations, and was recently hired by Disney to serve as Executive Vice President, Global Communications and lead spokesperson.
©Disney
Schake’s title won’t change, but she will report directly to Chapek and will have an expanded role, taking over part of Morrell’s role. In this expanded role, Chapek noted that she’ll “have oversight for corporate and segment communications and continue to be our chief spokesperson.” She’ll essentially handle Disney’s communications efforts.
According to Chapek, “Kristina has a strategic approach and collaborative style, as well as relentless optimism and a strong appreciation of our brand and its place in the world. These attributes will be invaluable as she works to protect and enhance our reputation, and I am thrilled to be working with her more closely.”
Walt Disney Company Headquarters ©LA Times
Then we have Horacio Gutierrez. Gutierrez currently serves as General Counsel. He will now also handle Government Relations and Global Public Policy.
Chapek also noted that more individuals will report directly to Horacio. Specifically, “Susan Fox, Senior Vice President for Government Relations, and Yvonne Pei, Senior Vice President, External Relations, Greater China, will join Dorothy Attwood, Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy, in reporting directly to Horacio.”
©Walt Disney Company
Finally, there’s Jenny Cohen. Cohen is Executive Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility. Because of Morrell’s departure, she will report solely to Chapek in her role “leading our CSR and ESG efforts.”
Chapek noted that Cohen has done “incredible work modernizing our approach in key areas like environmental sustainability, community investment, and philanthropy.”
©Walt Disney Company
These changes come following weeks where Disney’s name has often made headlines in relation to the handling of the situation surrounding the Parental Rights in Education Bill (what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) in Florida, the dissolution of Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District by the Florida legislature, and more.
Deadline says that “the hope at the highest level is that Morrell’s removal and the new reorganization will allow the media giant to come out from underneath the falling debris of the current situation.”
The Walt Disney World main gate
We’ll continue to look for more updates and share those with you. Be sure to check back with us for all the latest Disney news.
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The fact that Disney has someone in charge of ESG scores tells you all you need to know. If you are not familiar with them, they are the gateway to a social credit score such as the one implemented in China. This company is going downhill so fast it is unbelievable. Give it a couple years and this surge in attendance is going to be long gone and the company will be left bankrupt.
Oh well, good or bad, the house the mouse built is experiencing some cracks in the walls. I guess T he new broom sweeps clean. Eiger remnants may be starting to move on. Life is certainly different in the Mouse house these days from 3 years ago.
My wife first took me to Disney (WDW) in 1980. I had kind of a stressful job building financial models, but when I walked into WDW, stress just melted. I loved the fact that no matter what was going on in the outside world, you got taken care of at WDW. We went to WDW every year, except when we were having babies. Now we have about 500 DVC points, annual passes, and go 2-3 times a year. We took our niece last year and will take our grand babies next year… well maybe. All that changed with this political stuff. I’m not against anyone or necessarily for anyone… live and let live, let people be who they are without being “in your face” and political… particularly with Disney. I just want my family to be left alone to enjoy what used to be the one place you could take a family and not have to worry about the outside world. We cancelled our upcoming trip and Disney plus because of all the politics Disney put itself into. I’m just tired of it. Its too bad we can’t go back to the days when you could go to WDW and forget about the world instead of being drawn into the middle of it. But it looks like Disney wants be a political company not an entertainment company. Too bad.
Executive Vice President for Global Communications has experience in the Obama and Biden administrations, who thinks anything is going to change. The left ward lean is only going to get worse. From the prior comments I see I am not the only one who thinks this way.
I hope these new hires, repositioning “SR VPs will help deflect the miss steps of mr Chapek, and if not can his resignation be far away. It is a shame Disney stock has dropped so far so fast at the mishandling of Chapek.
I don’t get the people who claim Disney is now suddenly a “political” corporation. It always has been. You just weren’t paying attention. It has always stood for inclusivity and diversity throughout the company. It has also always donated to candidates on both sides of the aisle. None of this is new.
What is new is the climate of hate and bigotry being openly acceptable. It’s up to all of us, corporations included, to ensure that the civil and human rights of all citizens are upheld, if not expanded. Those who do not want to see anyone stand up for civil and human rights in the face of abuse have been living a life of privilege and willful blindness. It’s uncomfortable but necessary to take a stand for others.
I applaud Disney for eventually taking a stand against bigotry and hatred, even though I think it was poorly managed and a case of “too little, too late.” In my opinion, they should have stepped up strongly from the beginning against laws designed to keep anyone down who isn’t straight, white and male. I am hoping that these changes in the corporate structure are another step forward, not back, regardless of the consequences. When we stand up to bullies, sometimes we take a punch for the one we are protecting. But we can be proud of taking positive action.