Why Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Plans 1,000 Job Cuts

Less than one month as The Walt Disney Company’s CEO, Josh D'Amar is rumoured to be planning layoffs. 

As many as 1,000 employees are expected to be made redundant over the coming weeks, particularly impacting marketing departments, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The news follows a restructure by the entertainment giant back in 2023, when Bob Iger was at the helm. Under Bob’s leadership, 7,000 jobs were cut. 

This new wave of layoffs is said to be part of Disney’s cost-cutting strategy. The news is yet to be made public, but was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Josh, who previously served as the Chairman of Disney Experiences, officially took the reins as CEO on March 18.

Marketing roles will be impacted the most

Disney’s marketing department first began its restructure in January 2026, when Bob was CEO.

At that time, the company consolidated its marketing operations for the first time in its history, bringing the entertainment, experiences and sports divisions under a single leader: Asad Ayaz.

As the newly appointed Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, Ayaz reports directly to Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden and Josh D’Amaro. However, the centralised strategy is now leading to staffing cuts. 

Speaking on the announcement, Deep Shah, Finance Manager at MITSUMI Distribution, said: “Disney's challenges are real. Streaming profitability. Content costs. Theme park pricing pressures. A fanbase that is simultaneously fiercely loyal and increasingly vocal about what it expects.

“But what makes this transition interesting is not just who's leaving, it's what the choice of successor signals.

“Disney picked someone who understands experience-led businesses at their core. In a world where content is increasingly commoditised and audiences have infinite choices, the companies that win may be the ones that make people feel they belong to something.

“That's Disney's oldest advantage. And D'Amaro knows it better than almost anyone.”

Disney’s history of layoffs 

Bob first became Disney’s CEO on October 1, 2005, succeeding Michael Eisner. After 15 years at the helm, he stepped down in February 2020 – only to return two years later, following the departure of Bob Chapek.

Upon rejoining the company, Bob was tasked with stabilising Disney’s struggling stock prices. Upon his return, Bob instructed a large-scale staff cut in 2023, impacting thousands of roles.

However, that volatility has resurfaced in 2026; as of last Thursday, Disney’s shares saw another decline.

Speaking of Bob’s impact on the company, Josh said: “When Bob returned to the company a few years ago, his goal was to fortify our business and lay the groundwork for long-term growth, by reigniting creativity and improving performance at our studios, building a robust and profitable streaming business, transforming ESPN for a digital future, and turbocharging our parks and experiences.

“We’ve accomplished all of those things, and we’re operating from a place of strength, with ample opportunity for growth.”

Over three-quarters (76%) of Disney’s workforce is full-time, with 172,000 working in the US.

Who is Josh D’Amaro?

As a Disney veteran since 1998, Josh began his journey at The Walt Disney Company before ascending through a variety of high-level roles in operations, marketing, and finance. 

His institutional knowledge stems from tenures as CFO of Disney Consumer Products Global Licensing, as well as serving as President of both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts.

By May 2020, Josh’s portfolio grew to encompass Disney’s global parks and cruises, consumer products and the creative engine of Walt Disney Imagineering, leading him to his path toward becoming CEO.

After a unanimous vote by the 10 board members and former CEO Bob Iger, Josh D’Amaro was selected in early February to lead Disney’s 231,000 full- and part-time employees.