Layoffs Hit Disney: 1,000 Jobs Cut as Josh D’Amaro Unveils Streamlining Push

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By Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

"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," the CEO told staff Tuesday.

Layoffs are hitting The Walt Disney Co., beginning Tuesday.

CEO Josh D’Amaro, only a month into the job, informed staff of the cuts in a memo. A source familiar with the matter tells The Hollywood Reporter that around 1,000 jobs are expected to be eliminated.

Cuts are expected in the company’s unified marketing organization under Asad Ayaz, which Disney announced in January, as well as in its studios and TV businesses, ESPN, product & technology, and certain corporate functions.

The unified marketing structure brought all of Disney’s sprawling marketing apparatus, from films, TV and ESPN to streaming and theme parks, into one group.

The company is said to be shifting more resources to other strategic priorities, especially given the rapid changes facing the entertainment business.

“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 wrote in his memo. “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.”