Latest: Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts Name New Presidents

Originally Posted By AutoPost

This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest-ID-81381.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts Name New Presidents</b></a>
<p>Disney has named a new president of both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort effective February 1:</p>
<p><strong>George Kalogridis&nbsp;</strong><span>will become president of the Walt Disney World Resort, reporting to Meg Crofton. He has more than 40 years of experience at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in a number of positions around the world. As president of the Disneyland Resort, he oversaw one of the successful transformation of Disney California Adventure. He has also served in multiple leadership roles at Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World and Disneyland.</span></p>
<p><strong>Michael Colglazier</strong><span>&nbsp;will become president of the Disneyland Resort, reporting to Meg Crofton. His Disney career spans more than two decades across several areas of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, including Operations, Global Development,&nbsp;Disney Photo Imaging,&nbsp;Operations Strategy and Technology and Strategic Planning. For the last several years he has served as head of Disney&rsquo;s Animal Kingdom where, among other roles, has been instrumental in the early planning and development of our Avatar project. he previously oversaw the creation and growth of Disney's PhotoPass and helped re-energize Innoventions at both Disneyland and Epcot through strategic partnerships.</span></p>

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

Must. Stay. Positive.

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

Here's the complete press release:
BURBANK, Calif. (Jan. 9, 2013) – Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Tom Staggs today announced key leadership changes across one of the world’s leading providers of family travel and leisure experiences to better position the organization for growth. Effective Feb. 1, Meg Crofton will fully assume her global role as president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France – a position she has held since July 2011 – while concurrently serving as president of Walt Disney World. With Meg’s transition complete, George A. Kalogridis is named president of the Walt Disney World Resort, and Michael Colglazier is named president of the Disneyland Resort. Both Kalogridis and Colglazier’s roles are also effective Feb. 1.

“With all that we currently have in flight across our resort destinations in the U.S. and France, the time is right to move forward with this leadership transition,” said Staggs. “This group of Disney veterans has the knowledge and expertise needed to continue delivering on our legacy of creating unforgettable experiences that our guests have come to know and expect. I would like to thank Meg for her tireless devotion and the extraordinary contributions serving in both positions, and wish George and Michael the best of luck in their new roles. They both bring a wealth of operational expertise, leadership and passion to these roles, which will contribute to the success of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.”

With the appointment of a Walt Disney World president, Crofton will focus all of her attention to providing strategic oversight of the broader initiatives that impact Disney destinations in the U.S. and France.

Kalogridis brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise to his new role at Walt Disney World, including more than 40 years of experience at Disney parks in a number of positions around the world. Most recently as president of the Disneyland Resort, he oversaw one of the most extensive expansion projects in the Resort’s history -- including the immensely successful transformation of Disney California Adventure. Throughout his career, Kalogridis also has proven himself to be a leader in the travel and leisure industry, as well as a respected partner in the community.

For the last several years, Colglazier has served as head of Disney’s Animal Kingdom where he has been instrumental in the planning and development of an Avatar-themed land. He brings more than two decades of wide-ranging experience to his new role at the Disneyland Resort, including leadership positions in Operations, Global Development, Operations Strategy and Technology and Strategic Planning.

The company also announced several other corresponding changes. As part of the organization’s approach to providing new opportunities and challenges to leaders, each of these transitions is designed to give seasoned executives the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the segment’s diverse businesses and operations around the world.

Claire Bilby will relocate to Paris as senior vice president, Sales and Marketing Disneyland Paris and Europe, reporting to Leslie Ferraro, executive vice president of Global Marketing and Sales and Philippe Gas, CEO of Euro Disney S.A.S. Bilby has held a variety of executive positions around the world, including several in sales and marketing, and most recently she has been instrumental in leading the Disney Vacation Club business, making it a priority to deliver an exceptional experience to the more than 175,000 Member families.

As a result of Bilby’s new position, Ken Potrock has been named senior vice president and general manager, Disney Vacation Club and Adventures by Disney, reporting to Karl Holz, president of New Vacation Operations and Disney Cruise Line. Throughout his Disney career, Potrock has been a leader in a wide array of Parks and Resorts businesses, and has become known as a creative catalyst with deep experience in marketing and operations. Most recently leading both the sports and Downtown Disney organizations, his leadership abilities have been apparent with the sports business and the unprecedented growth of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.

 

Originally Posted By TP2000

Hmm....

Animal Kingdom. Where they can't/won't keep the Yeti working at their signature E Ticket. And where the rest of the small handful of rides gather dust by the inch and slip quietly into irrelevance with each passing year while they flog an upcharge "experience" for small groups of DVC owners and concierge hotel guests. Not a good resume builder for Colglazier.

At 45 years old Colglazier is younger than Kalogridis. So I wonder just what exactly he did at the dusty and musty Animal Kingdom to get him promoted?

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

"He previously oversaw the creation and growth of Disney's PhotoPass and helped re-energize Innoventions at both Disneyland and Epcot through strategic partnerships."

PhotoPass. That's the ticket.

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

Oh boy, it's time to cue the Worry Warts.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

I hate photopass.

No offense Michael!

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

I hate photopass.

No offense Michael!

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

The key is to never care who runs what, then when there are changes announced you won't know who the hell anyone is talking about, so it won't mean anything to you.

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

I've never used Photopass, and I'm not even sure if I know what it is. I tend to steer clear of anything that remotely looks like a scheme to get money out of my pockets.

 

Originally Posted By Yookeroo

I found the attractions Photopass at WDW to be well worth it.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

Tags: Meg Crofton, Unqualified, Executive Level, Cronyism.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

A friend mentioned that there's a hashtag on Twitter for this: #LimitedTimeManagment

I think Twitter is one of the dumbest things ever, but I thought that was pretty clever!

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

I'm fine with George coming to WDW. At the very least, he can't make things worse, and if he brings a DL style maintenance attitude to the whole of WDW, the parks could improve drastically.

But Michael going to DLR...oh boy. Not a fan at all. Terrible;e, terrible move.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

WDW's management structure has been too flat for years. Al Weiss was giving too much power by Jay to expand his flunky ranks in TDO.

There are too many Ops VPs these days - the parks just don't need that level of supervision these days as everything is automated. In the past those park veeps would be required to sign off on staffing plans and deal with unpredictable guestflows. That isn't the case any more.

So then you have a WDW President and a president of worldwide ops (that doesn't include Hong Kong!). So much superfluous management. Meg's team have yet to come up with any major changes to the way that Ops is run at DLR, WDW or DLRP - because surprise, surprise each need their own local operating manual for their own specific market. I'm still amazed that this Rasulo pet project hasn't been put to sleep.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<I'm fine with George coming to WDW. At the very least, he can't make things worse, and if he brings a DL style maintenance attitude to the whole of WDW, the parks could improve drastically.>>

George has never rocked the boat once in any of his management tenures. He has always either picked up where the predecessor left off or carried out his bosses' wishes. There is no way that WDW's maintenance plan will be touched.

George is a nice guy but you wouldn't risk putting him in a role that encompassed change management - he doesn't have it in him. He is a good safe pair of hands on calm waters.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<For the last several years he has served as head of Disney’s Animal Kingdom where, among other roles, has been instrumental in the early planning and development of our Avatar project.>>

I spat out my morning Starbucks when I read this comment. There has never been and never will be a park veep that is "instrumental" in masterplanning at their park - that role is purely operational. There is no need for them to be involved in any development of future attractions except to assess the on staffing and operations once the concept is ready to be roadtested. And even then it is usually passed down to more junior folks to review.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<Michael Colglazier will become president of the Disneyland Resort, reporting to Meg Crofton. His Disney career spans more than two decades across several areas of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, including Operations, Global Development, Disney Photo Imaging, Operations Strategy and Technology and Strategic Planning.>>

They really are stretching out his resume to justify this move. His involvement in "global development" was barely cursory. His main background is in WDW strategic planning and even then he didn't get many ideas off the drawing boards.

DAK just hasn't been the same park since Dr Beth Stevens pleaded to be given a new role that was more befitting her education. It has just had a succession of poor ops folks.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<But Michael going to DLR...oh boy. Not a fan at all. Terrible;e, terrible move.>>

DLR doesn't have any big projects in the capex pipeline at the moment so it could be that he is simply maintaining the status quo. There are a lot of things that people are pushing for at DLR but ultimately there is no capex in the budget for them so they will need board approval even if the executive committee decide that DLR needs new capacity etc.

It is a surprise that he has leapfrogged over a few people at TDA to get this role. I thought (as did a lot of colleagues) that Mary Niven was a shoe-in for the role as she is so universally liked for her management of DCA (worth adding that I locked horns with her on numerous occasions when she ran F&B and I found her attitude to be confrontational and belligerent at best). Someone like Michael O'Grattan might have also been a possibility (is he even still at TDA? Not seen him for ages).

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<Claire Bilby will relocate to Paris as senior vice president, Sales and Marketing Disneyland Paris and Europe, reporting to Leslie Ferraro, executive vice president of Global Marketing and Sales and Philippe Gas, CEO of Euro Disney S.A.S.>>

Federico J. Gonzalez has been SVP for Sales and Marketing at DLRP forever. I wonder if that means he is leaving. I had a lot of time for Federico - a very good executive who spoke his mind and didn't tow the party line if he didn't think it was the right approach.