Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=1247" target="_blank">The Latest: Latest: Lee Cockerell Retires</a>
Originally Posted By hopemax Alright, all you dueling "insiders." Now that we know what is going on about the Figment event, what does *this* mean for the themeparks & resorts, and especially the direction of WDW?
Originally Posted By hopemax Here's the snippet from the Sentinel Disney World executive retires Walt Disney World's No. 2 executive, Lee Cockerell, executive vice president of operations, announced his retirement Friday after 16 years with the Walt Disney Co. Cockerell, 60, who started his Disney career at Disneyland Paris, is known for his penchant for mixing with customers and employees in the parks, and for his commitments to time management, teaching and professional development. He plans to work through July 28. His departure could leave the company looking to fill the two top spots at Walt Disney World. Al Weiss was promoted last year to worldwide president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and is continuing for now to serve as president of Walt Disney World.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I will be sure to post my resume on Monster. I am sure I will get THE call within a couple days.
Originally Posted By leemac From what I have seen Lee was popular amongst cast members. I've been hearing that Epcot VP Brad Rex is one CM that is being contemplated for the E-VP Ops role. Will be interesting to see who gets the job.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 My weekend just started on a very high note. I can't tell you how happy I am to see Lee leaving. I could do a rip job, much deserved on him, but I won't. I'll just smile and wish him well in the future. And I sincerely hope Brad Rex is not being considered for any promotion let alone one like that. He's a money-man. He never held a theme park job prior to being named Epcot VP. He's fine for a background job, but not one that demands thinking creatively and off guest satisfaction. But considering that so much is in flux in parks and resorts right now, it wouldn't surprise me to see the job open for months. Thanks for making my day, LP.com!
Originally Posted By hopemax Can you perhaps give a little enlightenment? The impression I have gotten elsewhere is that among who was there, he was the one that most "got it." (not that anyone was a real faithful follower of the old ways). Is there anyone in particular that you would like to see move into that postion?
Originally Posted By Skellington88 Spirit the problem is most of the executives at WDW are money men so if they promote someone from within the resort its gonna be a moneyman...lets just hope it isnt someone like Pressler
Originally Posted By DisneyWorldMom Is it better to bring in a fresh face from outside... Clearer thinking with no baggage.. I just wonder...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Can you perhaps give a little enlightenment? The impression I have gotten elsewhere is that among who was there, he was the one that most "got it." (not that anyone was a real faithful follower of the old ways).>> Lee certainly had his fan club. But my take on it is that much of was from his push for career development and training for CMs. He was like an Amway saleman (are they still around?) at that. He was a people person, but that doesn't mean he was a good fit for his position. If you read his weekly Main Street Diary, you'd almost swear he was an oldtimer. He was great at talking the talk. But all the time he was doing so, the product was getting WalMarted. <<Is there anyone in particular that you would like to see move into that postion?>> Other than myself? There are a few names that come to mind. But I think what is needed is an outsider, but someone intimately familiar with WDW (past and present), someone who doesn't owe his position to anyone and is free to embark on improving many things that need it. In other words, a free spirit. Hmmm... the more I think about it, the more it does sound like me ;-)
Originally Posted By idleHands Question for leemac and Sof74: Do you see Cockerell's retirement as part of the "first wave" of summertime executive housecleaning in Parks & Resorts?
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Personally I don't. I think it would be foolish to mess with it right now. Regardless what we perceive (as the fan community) WDP&R looks set to have a record year thanks to clever marketing of both HCOE/HHOE. I'd be amazed if we saw people getting shuffled off.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^I do think it's a sign of things to come ... not just at WDW. I hear rumblings of housecleaning in many parts of the company. I think that's only normal. Bob Iger's been on the job for a while. He can what -- and who -- works and what doesn't, and he wants to put his own stamp on things. I sense two periods of change in the near future at Disney. One is this suummer, late this month and on thru until Labor Day. That's a great time to make changes as they can easily slip under the radar because so many key people (at corporate, in the mainstream media, and just regular janes and joes) are on vacation. The second time I see change coming will be around Oct. 1st. New fiscal year makes it a natural time to make changes. And since Labuda's wonderful tribute thread to moi (and me too) was closed for some mysterious reason -- even TDLFAN and Leemac weren't beating up on each other -- Lee asked about LuvDatDisney. Since he was one of the reason's I returned here, I don't feel it's out of line to say I've been told he's returned to work at TWDC and feels it's inappropriate to post here (scruples, imagine that?)
Originally Posted By idleHands <<I'd be amazed if we saw people getting shuffled off.>> Interesting assumption, since layoffs at WDI have been slowly but steadily marching forward, for quite a while now. The pink slips are handed out in small batches, so it flies completely under the radar. (Lesson learned from Silicon Valley; Sun Microsystems has been doing small stealth layoffs like this for years.) It's only a matter of time before the executives who were put into place during the Pressler/Eisner era, solely to control costs at the expense of creative integrity and originality, are dismissed. A new era at Disney has begun, with the acquisition of Pixar. Iger is his own boss, and Lasseter believes in "old school" ways. But there are still plenty of executives in place, who do not hold to the same business principles and practices as do Bob and John. Exchanging your Armani suit and tie for an aloha shirt and blue jeans is not an ephiphany. It's a sham. And I have no doubt that Lasseter is smart enough to know who gets it, and who's simply trying to save his butt.
Originally Posted By idleHands <<And since Labuda's wonderful tribute thread to moi (and me too) was closed for some mysterious reason -- even TDLFAN and Leemac weren't beating up on each other -- Lee asked about LuvDatDisney. Since he was one of the reason's I returned here, I don't feel it's out of line to say I've been told he's returned to work at TWDC and feels it's inappropriate to post here (scruples, imagine that?)>> So the thread was closed? Any way you slice it, that has the distinct aroma of conspiracy, whether or not conspiracy exists. And hooray for LuvDatDisney!! I'm rootin' for ya, LDD! Good luck in your new position with WDC! Miss your input here on LP. Definitely.
Originally Posted By idleHands <--- wonders when I'll ever get an > > > EPIPHANY < < < about the joys of using a spellchecker!!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>From what I have seen Lee was popular amongst cast members.<< Yes, you keep reminding us of that.
Originally Posted By leemac <<And since Labuda's wonderful tribute thread to moi (and me too) was closed for some mysterious reason -- even TDLFAN and Leemac weren't beating up on each other -- Lee asked about LuvDatDisney. Since he was one of the reason's I returned here, I don't feel it's out of line to say I've been told he's returned to work at TWDC and feels it's inappropriate to post here (scruples, imagine that?)>> I have no idea why the moderators closed it either. Very odd. If LDD is back at the Company then I wish him well. The Company needs some more CMs to be passionate about the product.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 Hey Leemac and Spirit you both have some connection inside the Disney company correct? Have you guys heard any serious talk about don goodman or tom fitzgerald being shown the door at imagineering?
