The Walt Disney Company began laying off employees on Tuesday as part of a workforce reduction that is expected to affect roughly 1,000 people across the company.
According to reporting from TheWrap, 20 employees in publicity were cut along with the entire home entertainment team, led by executive director of global publicity and marketing communications Chris Bess. The EPK unit, including director of creative content Natalie Clunis, was also eliminated.
Digital marketing roles were affected at multiple levels, including senior leadership positions such as SVP of Global Digital Marketing Dustin Sandoval and Director of Digital Marketing Mike Reeder.
TheWrap noted the exit of key creative advertising staff, including Steve Nuchols, who oversaw print campaigns for decades, and Theresa Helmer, VP of Brand Digital Marketing.
Marvel also saw reductions with cuts spanning both Burbank and New York, including film and TV production, comics, franchise operations, finance, and legal, in line with broader efforts tied to a smaller production slate and ongoing restructuring.
According to Forbes, nearly the entire Academy Award-winning visual development team at Marvel Studios was among those let go, leaving only a small core production staff in place to coordinate hiring on a per-project basis. Some of the visual development artists will reportedly shift from full-time roles to contractor positions, working on a project-by-project basis.
The layoffs were carried out under new chief executive Josh D’Amaro, who assumed the role last month following Bob Iger’s tenure. In a letter sent to employees Tuesday morning, D’Amaro said the layoffs stem from an effort to assess how to better allocate resources and direct investment back into the company’s business. He wrote that Disney has spent recent months looking for ways to streamline operations, noting that the industry requires “a more agile and technology-focused workforce.”
Josh D’Amaro’s full letter to Disney employees:
Dear Fellow Employees & Cast Members,
We have experienced a great deal of change these last few years, both at the company and across our industries. Knowing firsthand how these moments can bring uncertainty, I want to be open about some difficult news that will be communicated this week.
In January, we announced our unified enterprise marketing and brand organization, designed to serve consumers in an even more connected way. 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. 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.
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.
Compassion and respect remain at the heart of our company. As we move forward through this transition, our priority is to support those impacted and help each person navigate what comes next with resources, guidance, and direct support.
Despite these difficult decisions, I remain optimistic about where we’re headed as a company. I’m deeply grateful for all of your contributions and for the dedication, professionalism, and care you bring to your work each day. Even in challenging moments, you continue to demonstrate what makes Disney so special.
Josh
Featured image: Disney
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