Brief
Disney to cut hundreds of TV jobs as new CEO Josh D’Amaro reshapes unit
The restructuring aims to centralise Disney's television business and reduce staff in several departments.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Disney is preparing a major overhaul of its television division that will result in hundreds of layoffs, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
What happened
The company intends to consolidate its TV divisions and slash jobs, with cuts already affecting marketing, Pixar, ABC News, ESPN, human resources, information technology, legal and global affairs units. More than 300 positions were eliminated on Tuesday, primarily in HR and IT.
What the reports add
The Journal said the changes may not be finalised before year‑end. Disney chief legal and global affairs officer Horacio Gutierrez told staff the legal team will become “a much smaller organization than it is today” because of automation. President and chief creative officer Dana Walden said the move is about “centralising as a television business, not a bunch of silos.”
What was said
Walden told a Bloomberg conference in Los Angeles that Disney must constantly evaluate its structure and size. Gutierrez, quoted by the Journal, emphasized the role of automation in shrinking the legal unit.
How it came about
The plan follows a series of reorganisations since Josh D’Amaro became CEO in March after leading Disney’s parks division.
Key facts
- Disney plans to cut hundreds of jobs in its TV unit (nypost.com)
- More than 300 positions were eliminated on Tuesday, mainly in HR and IT (nypost.com)
- Legal and global affairs staff will be reduced, citing automation (nypost.com)
- Dana Walden said the goal is to centralise the TV business (nypost.com)
- Josh D’Amaro became CEO in March after heading Disney parks (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Disney plans hundreds of job cuts in restructuring under new CEO Josh D’Amaro: report”
