Key Moments
- Walt Disney’s new CEO Josh D’Amaro told employees that approximately 1,000 jobs will be cut as part of an operational streamlining effort.
- The reductions are set to impact marketing, studio and television operations, ESPN, products and technology, and selected corporate functions.
- The move follows a 2023 restructuring in which Disney planned 7,000 job cuts tied to $5.5 billion in cost savings.
Leadership Drives New Restructuring Initiative
LOS ANGELES, April 14 (Reuters) – Walt Disney’s newly appointed chief executive, Josh D’Amaro, has outlined a new round of layoffs in an internal email to staff on Tuesday, describing the move as part of an effort to make the company more efficient.
A person familiar with the matter said the company intends to eliminate about 1,000 positions. The email, seen by Reuters, detailed the rationale behind the reductions.
Scope of the Job Cuts Across Business Units
According to the source, the latest cuts will primarily affect the marketing organization, which underwent a reorganization in January. Additional reductions will reach other parts of the enterprise, including its studio and television operations, ESPN, products and technology teams, as well as certain corporate roles.
Disney began notifying affected employees this week, the person said.
| Area Impacted | Details |
|---|---|
| Marketing | Group reorganized in January and now facing additional layoffs |
| Studio and Television | Selected positions to be eliminated |
| ESPN | Included in the latest round of job cuts |
| Products and Technology | Roles to be reduced as part of streamlining |
| Corporate Functions | Certain corporate positions affected |
Management Rationale and Internal Messaging
In his message to employees, D’Amaro framed the decision as a response to rapid shifts across the sectors in which Disney operates.
“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,” D’Amaro wrote in an email seen by Reuters. “As a result, we will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company.”
Industry Pressures and Recent History of Layoffs
Disney is moving to adapt its cost structure as it confronts several industry headwinds, including a weakening television business, pressure on box office performance, and rising competitive intensity. Other major entertainment companies, including Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Skydance, have also carried out layoffs in response to similar pressures.
The company’s last major wave of job reductions occurred in 2023, when Disney said it would trim 7,000 positions in pursuit of $5.5 billion in cost savings. At that time, the company was confronting demands from activist investor Nelson Peltz to enhance financial results and address losses in its streaming operations.
Workforce Size and Initial Report
Disney reported that it employed approximately 231,000 people as of September, the close of its fiscal year.
The Wall Street Journal was the first outlet to report the latest job cuts.
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