The enchanted world of Disney is growing darker. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company is preparing for a new round of cuts that could involve up to 1,000 employees, while the internal reorganization continues to take shape with centralized marketing, new management structures, and a cost containment strategy already underway for some time. The information comes from multiple sources and converges on one point: the downsizing phase is not yet over.
THE FIRST CUTS UNDER THE NEW LEADERSHIP
The company is about to launch a new wave of layoffs that, according to various reports, could reach up to 1,000 jobs. These would be the first such interventions after the leadership change with Josh D’Amaro, who took on the role of CEO in mid-March and officially assumed command on March 18 during the shareholders’ meeting.
The cuts are expected in the coming weeks or months and are part of a broader phase of cost and organizational structure review.
THE ISSUE OF CENTRALIZED MARKETING
A significant portion of the reductions, says the WSJ, should focus on the marketing department, recently reorganized and centralized under a single global leadership. The process began in January, when Disney decided to unify the marketing functions of cinema, television, and streaming, eliminating internal duplications.
In this context, a single structure was created, led by Asad Ayaz, appointed Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, responsible for coordinating all company divisions. His role involves reorganizing fragmented activities among entertainment, experiences, and sports, with a view to greater operational integration.
According to various reports, part of the cuts would be directly linked to this internal reorganization.
THE SIZE OF THE GROUP AND PREVIOUS CUTS
At the end of the last fiscal year, Disney had about 230,000–231,000 employees worldwide, with a very large share employed in theme parks and activities related to “experiences.” The reductions in recent years have focused mainly on the entertainment, ESPN, and corporate areas, while the parks sector has remained relatively more stable.
Between 2023 and 2025, under Bob Iger’s leadership, the company has already carried out multiple waves of cuts involving about 8,000 workers and generating estimated savings of $7.5 billion. During that period, the restructuring was accompanied by a review of content production, aiming to reduce overproduction and contain costs.
RESTRUCTURING AND UNIFIED STREAMING
Alongside the cuts, Disney is continuing to modify the structure of its streaming platforms. According to Quartz, the company is integrating the internal organizations of Disney+ and Hulu, with a view to greater operational unification.
The process fits into a broader strategy aimed at reducing internal fragmentation and simplifying the management of the group’s various businesses, from film productions to theme parks and streaming.
A NEW VISION IN A NEW CONTEXT
As noted by the Los Angeles Times, the new measures come at a time when the entire media sector is facing a phase of contraction and restructuring, with other entertainment companies announcing staff reductions. Within Disney, the leadership change and the transition between different managerial phases have accompanied a series of organizational interventions already underway in previous years.
D’Amaro, before his appointment as CEO, led the Disney Experiences division and has now initiated a phase in which the company aims to operate as “one Disney,” with greater integration among its global divisions.
