As March 18 approaches, a significant leadership shift at The Walt Disney Company is quickly coming into focus. With longtime CEO Bob Iger preparing to leave the role and Disney Parks chief Josh D’Amaro stepping into the top job, the company has confirmed who will take over one of its most powerful positions: Chairman of Disney Experiences.
This division oversees a massive portion of Disney’s operations. Disney Experiences includes the company’s theme parks, cruise ships, resort hotels, consumer products, and Walt Disney Imagineering–the segment responsible for the real-world destinations and attractions millions of guests visit each year.
With D’Amaro preparing to take the CEO position on March 18, the company has now named his successor for the Experiences division, providing a clearer picture of how the parks and resorts side of Disney will move forward in the coming years.
Disney has officially announced that Thomas Mazloum will become the next Chairman of Disney Experiences. The change aligns with D’Amaro’s upcoming transition to CEO, replacing Bob Iger and bringing a close to a major era of Disney leadership.
“Thomas Mazloum is an exceptional leader with a genuine appreciation for our cast members and a proven track record of delivering growth,” said Josh D’Amaro in a statement, via The Hollywood Reporter. “His focus on service excellence, broad international leadership, and strong connection to the creativity that brings our stories to life make him the right leader to guide Disney Experiences into its next chapter.”
Mazloum currently serves as President of the Disneyland Resort in California. In that role, he oversees roughly 36,000 cast members and manages the entire destination, including Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, three resort hotels, and the Downtown Disney District.
Industry watchers had already pointed to Mazloum as a likely successor even before the official announcement. His long career within the company spans multiple leadership roles across resort operations, Disney Cruise Line, and international business initiatives, giving him broad experience across the Experiences division.
The leadership transition arrives during a period of continued expansion for Disney’s parks and experiences business. The division includes the global theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, international vacation offerings, and a large portfolio of consumer products connected to Disney’s entertainment brands.
During D’Amaro’s tenure overseeing the segment, the Experiences division has remained one of Disney’s strongest financial performers and has played a central role in the company’s growth strategy. Mazloum’s promotion is only part of a broader leadership shuffle across Disney’s Experiences operations.
With Mazloum moving into the chairman role, Jill Estorino will become the new President of the Disneyland Resort. Estorino most recently served as President and Managing Director of Disney Parks International and brings more than 30 years of experience with the company.
Additional leadership updates are also coming to other parts of the Experiences business. Tasia Filippatos will take charge of Disney Parks International, where she will oversee parks and resort operations outside the United States. Meanwhile, Lisa Baldzicki has been promoted to President of Disney Consumer Products. All of these changes will take effect on March 18, the same day D’Amaro officially becomes CEO.
The date represents the culmination of a closely watched succession process. Over the past several months, investors and fans alike have speculated about who would ultimately succeed Bob Iger, whose leadership has shaped Disney for decades.
Earlier reporting indicated that Disney had considered multiple internal candidates before selecting D’Amaro. One of those names was Dana Walden, who will now move into a President role within the company.
For Disney Parks fans, the leadership changes could influence the future of attractions, resorts, and vacation experiences across the globe. The Disney Experiences division plays a major role in guest-facing projects, from theme park expansions and cruise ships to international resort developments and merchandise tied to Disney’s many franchises.
With Mazloum stepping into the chairman role, he will now help guide many of those initiatives as Disney continues building out its parks and vacation destinations worldwide. As the company moves into this new leadership era, attention will likely focus on how Disney continues blending storytelling with immersive experiences inside its parks and resorts.
With D’Amaro now heading to the CEO office and Mazloum taking the reins of the Experiences division, Disney’s next phase could be shaped heavily by the worlds, attractions, and destinations that have long defined the brand.
How do you feel this new era of Disney will come to fruition? Let us know in the comments down below!
