Walt Disney is preparing for a significant round of layoffs, one of the first major moves under its new Chief Executive Officer Josh D’Amaro. According to people familiar with the matter, the entertainment giant plans to eliminate as many as 1,000 positions in the coming weeks, with the cuts primarily focused in its recently consolidated marketing department.
Like many Hollywood studios, Disney is working to adapt to a new landscape: its streaming business yields far lower profits than traditional linear television, box office revenues are declining, and the company faces intense competition from tech firms such as Amazon and Google's YouTube. The company also aims to free up capital to invest in digital businesses with stronger growth potential. Since D’Amaro's predecessor Bob Iger returned as CEO in 2022 and initiated a major restructuring, Disney has already cut more than 8,000 jobs. Sources indicate that the current layoff plan was formulated before D’Amaro took the helm.
As of the end of fiscal year 2025, Disney's total workforce stood at 231,000 employees, with approximately 80% working in its experiences segment, which includes theme parks and consumer products. Previous layoffs have largely been concentrated in the entertainment division, the ESPN sports network, and corporate operations, while theme park and cruise ship businesses have continued to expand.
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