Disney Plans to Cut 1,000 Jobs Under New CEO Josh D’Amaro

Disney Plans Up to 1,000 Layoffs as New CEO Takes Charge

The Walt Disney Company plans to cut approximately 1,000 jobs in the coming months. The layoffs mark the first major workforce reduction under new CEO Josh D’Amaro. D’Amaro officially took the helm on March 18 at Disney’s annual shareholder meeting. The cuts follow a broader wave of restructuring across the media and entertainment industry.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the news of the upcoming layoffs. Disney declined to comment on the reports when contacted by media outlets. The company employs just over 231,000 people globally. Most of that headcount consists of part-time theme park workers.

The planned cuts represent a fraction of Disney’s total workforce. However, they signal a continued push toward leaner operations. D’Amaro stepped into the top role after a prolonged and closely watched succession process. He previously served as chairman of Disney Experiences.

Marketing Department Faces the Heaviest Impact

The layoffs will hit Disney’s marketing department hardest. That department recently underwent a significant consolidation. In January, Disney elevated veteran executive Asad Ayaz to Chief Marketing and Brand Officer. His appointment marked the first time Disney unified all its marketing divisions under one leader.

Ayaz now oversees marketing for Disney’s entertainment, experiences, and sports divisions. He reports directly to both D’Amaro and Dana Walden, Disney’s president and chief creative officer. The consolidation aimed to eliminate duplication across the company’s film, TV, and streaming operations. Many of the announced cuts directly connect to that restructuring move.

The marketing consolidation itself took place in January, while Bob Iger still served as CEO. Disney announced D’Amaro’s appointment shortly after that restructuring. The incoming CEO now inherits a leaner marketing structure built by his predecessor. Analysts see the layoffs as a natural follow-through on that earlier reorganisation.

D’Amaro Inherits a Company Already Mid-Transformation

D’Amaro took the top job after a period of significant upheaval at Disney. Iger returned to the company in late 2022 after an initial departure of about two years. He immediately set about reversing a decline in the company’s stock price and earnings. His return triggered one of the largest restructuring efforts in Disney’s history.

By February 2023, Iger had announced plans to cut $5.5 billion in costs and eliminate 7,000 jobs. From 2023 to 2025, multiple rounds of layoffs removed approximately 8,000 workers in total. Those cuts ultimately delivered cost savings of $7.5 billion. That figure came in far higher than Disney’s original forecasts.

The most recent round of layoffs before this announcement came in June. Several hundred employees across Disney Entertainment faced cuts at that time. Affected areas included marketing for film and television, publicity, casting, and development. Disney’s corporate financial operations also saw reductions in that round.

On his first official day as CEO, D’Amaro acknowledged Iger’s stabilising work at the company. He stated that Disney now operates from a position of strength. He highlighted profitable streaming, a transformed ESPN, and thriving parks as key achievements. D’Amaro expressed confidence in the company’s long-term growth prospects.

A Wider Trend Sweeping the Entertainment Industry

Disney’s latest cuts fit a clear and growing pattern across the entertainment sector. New leadership arrivals often trigger significant workforce reductions. Several major studios have followed this playbook in recent months. Industry observers now treat layoffs as an almost predictable consequence of CEO transitions.

Sony Pictures Entertainment faces hundreds of expected layoffs. Those cuts come less than a year into the tenure of new CEO Ravi Ahuja. At Paramount Skydance, David Ellison became CEO in August. Layoffs there began in October and affected more than 2,000 employees.

The pattern extends well beyond entertainment. Target announced approximately 1,800 layoffs in the autumn. New CEO Michael Fiddelke announced those cuts, which represented Target’s first major workforce reduction in about a decade. Across industries, new chief executives consistently use early tenure to reshape their organisations.

CEO Turnover Fuels Ongoing Corporate Restructuring

The wave of layoffs closely tracks a surge in CEO departures globally. A recent report from Russell Reynolds Associates recorded 234 CEO departures last year. That figure represents a 16% increase from the previous year. It also sits well above the multi-year average for executive turnover.

Executive search firm SpencerStuart adds further context to the trend. A new CEO appointment typically drives about 1.6 executive leaders to turn over as well. When CEOs face major transformation mandates, that figure rises to approximately four leaders. Disney itself reflects this pattern, with multiple senior roles shifting alongside D’Amaro’s appointment.

Broader forces are also reshaping corporate structures worldwide. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence prompt companies to reconsider staffing levels. Cost efficiency remains a dominant priority for media companies under investor pressure. These structural forces make further rounds of consolidation likely across the industry.

Disney’s Scale Puts the Cuts in Perspective

While 1,000 jobs represent a significant human impact, the scale remains limited relative to Disney’s size. The company’s 231,000-strong global workforce dwarfs the number of planned cuts. The percentage reduction amounts to less than half of one percent of total headcount. That context does not diminish the difficulty for affected employees, but it frames the financial stakes.

Disney’s earlier rounds of cuts under Iger were far more sweeping in scope. The elimination of approximately 8,000 jobs over two years reshaped entire divisions. The current round targets a specific, already-restructured function within the company. That precision suggests a more surgical approach under D’Amaro than under his predecessor.

Disney’s stock moved slightly lower in afternoon trading following the initial reports. Investors digested the news as part of ongoing restructuring expectations. The company has yet to confirm specific timelines for the cuts. Affected employees and departments await formal communication from leadership.

What Comes Next for Disney Under D’Amaro

D’Amaro faces the challenge of building on Iger’s turnaround while charting his own course. The new CEO must balance cost discipline with investment in creative growth. Disney’s streaming business, ESPN transformation, and theme park expansion all demand continued attention. The marketing consolidation gives him a unified brand voice to work with.

The June 2024 round of layoffs was the fourth in ten months to hit Disney’s television operations. The latest cuts suggest the rationalisation process continues under new management. Industry observers will watch closely for signs of D’Amaro’s broader strategic priorities. His early decisions will set the tone for Disney’s next chapter.

For now, up to 1,000 Disney employees face an uncertain period ahead. The cuts reflect both company-specific restructuring and industry-wide pressures. D’Amaro inherits a business that Iger steadied but did not fully transform. The new CEO now carries the responsibility of completing that work.