Not surprisingly, yesterday’s Q1 2023 earnings call for The Walt Disney Company was full of details and information about enormous changes as part of the future of the organization; was the first one to happen with Bob Iger returning to the role as Chief Executive Officer.

Amongst a slew of announcements was confirmation of a major restructure of the company with focus of returning power to creative leaders and ensuring they are accountable for all aspects of their businesses globally.

Courtesy of Disney, we have a more in-depth look at the Walt Disney Company restructuring below.

Core Business Segments

Effective immediately, the company will be organized into three core, collaborative business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

The leaders of each business segment will have full operational control and financial responsibility for creative development, marketing, technology, sales, and distribution, and will be accountable for driving business efficiencies globally.

Disney Entertainment

Disney Entertainment co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden will oversee the company’s global entertainment streaming businesses and manage all content decisions for those services, including Disney+ and Hulu.

The streaming business remains a top priority for the company. Disney’s unparalleled collection of renowned and trusted franchises and brands, combined with the reach of the streaming portfolio (consisting of Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Star+ and Hotstar) creates rich and direct connections between the consumer and the company’s stories and characters, powering growth across the entire company.

  • Bergman will also have primary oversight of the following businesses and content brands: Disney Live Action, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures as well as Disney Music Group and Disney Theatrical Group.
    • Alan Bergman is Co-Chairman for Disney Entertainment, along with Dana Walden. Together, they are responsible for The Walt Disney Company’s full portfolio of entertainment media and content business globally, including streaming. This includes accountability for content creation, sales and distribution, marketing, operations and technology. Bergman was previously Chairman, Disney Studios Content, responsible for the Studios division, including Disney Theatrical Productions. Prior to that, Bergman was Co-Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios from 2019 to 2020, and its President from 2005 to 2019.
  • Walden will also have primary oversight of the following businesses and content brands: ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Televisions Stations, Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Studios, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content, and Onyx Collective.
    • Dana Walden is Co-Chairman for Disney Entertainment, along with Alan Bergman. Together, they are responsible for The Walt Disney Company’s full portfolio of entertainment media and content business globally, including streaming. This includes accountability for content creation, sales and distribution, marketing, operations and technology. Walden was previously Chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content, overseeing original entertainment and news programming for Disney’s streaming platforms, broadcast and cable networks, in addition to Disney Televisions Studios and Onyx Collective. Prior to that, Walden served as Chairman of Entertainment for Walt Disney Television.

ESPN

ESPN will include ESPN networks and ESPN+ and will be led by Jimmy Pitaro. Pitaro will also be responsible for the management and supervision of the company’s full portfolio of sports content, products and experiences across all of Disney’s platforms worldwide, including its international sports channels.

  • Pitaro will continue to oversee eight linear networks, including ESPN and ESPN2; sports content across all Disney domestic and, going forward, international platforms; ESPN+; ESPN Audio; ESPN Digital; ESPN Social; ESPN Fantasy and a variety of owned sports events.
    • Jimmy Pitaro is Chairman of The Walt Disney Company’s ESPN business segment, which includes ESPN and ESPN+. Pitaro is also responsible for the Company’s full portfolio of sports content, products and experiences across all of Disney’s platforms worldwide, including content creation, sports rights acquisitions, distribution and marketing. Previously, Pitaro was ESPN President and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks, after serving as Chairman of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, starting in 2016.  He joined the Company in 2010 to lead Disney’s Interactive segment.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products — encompassing the company’s award-winning theme parks, cruise line, resort destinations and Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions, as well as Disney’s global consumer products, games, and publishing businesses — will continue under the leadership of Chairman Josh D’Amaro.

  • D’Amaro is Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, overseeing a global hub consisting of Disney’s iconic travel and leisure businesses, which include six theme park-resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; an award-winning guided family adventure business; and Disney’s global consumer products operations. D’Amaro has a 25-year track record with the company. Previously, D’Amaro had served as President of Disneyland and then Walt Disney World Resorts.

Additional Details

  • During the call, Iger also confirmed that a downsize of its workforce by approximately 7,000 employees is expected this year.
  • Several shared-service organizations across the company will support both Disney Entertainment and ESPN, facilitating company-wide efficiencies and creating a more cost-effective, coordinated, and streamlined approach to operations. These include Product and Technology, led by Aaron LaBerge; Advertising Sales, led by Rita Ferro; and Platform Distribution led by Justin Connolly excluding Theatrical Distribution and Music, which will be overseen by Bergman.
  • Outside of North America, the company’s media, entertainment, and sports content and operations will continue to be managed regionally by Luke Kang, President Asia Pacific; Jan Koeppen, President EMEA; Diego Lerner, President LATAM; and K Madhavan, President India. These leaders will report to Bergman, Walden, and Pitaro as part of their global responsibilities. As a result of the changes, Rebecca Campbell, Chairman, International Content and Operations, has decided to leave the Company.  An esteemed leader and longtime industry veteran, Campbell will stay on through June to help with the transition.