Disney Plans 1,000 Layoffs Under CEO Josh D’Amaro
- Is planning to eliminate as many as 1,000 positions as part of a new cost-cutting phase under new Chief Executive Officer Josh D'Amaro.
- The reductions are expected to primarily affect the company's marketing department.
- In January 2026, while Bob Iger was still serving as CEO, the company appointed Asad Ayaz to the newly created role of Chief Marketing and Brand Officer.
The Walt Disney Co. Is planning to eliminate as many as 1,000 positions as part of a new cost-cutting phase under new Chief Executive Officer Josh D’Amaro. The move represents the first round of layoffs since D’Amaro took over the top leadership role in mid-March 2026.
The reductions are expected to primarily affect the company’s marketing department. This follows a strategic reorganization in January 2026, when Disney consolidated its marketing operations across film, television, and streaming to eliminate duplication.
Marketing Consolidation and Leadership
In January 2026, while Bob Iger was still serving as CEO, the company appointed Asad Ayaz to the newly created role of Chief Marketing and Brand Officer. Ayaz now oversees marketing for all Disney divisions, including entertainment, experiences, and sports.
Ayaz reports directly to CEO Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden, the company’s president and chief creative officer. This structure marks the first time Disney has brought all of its business units under a single marketing chief.
According to sources familiar with the reduction, many of the positions being eliminated in the current round of layoffs are directly related to the consolidation of these marketing functions.
Historical Context of Cost Cutting
The current planned cuts are smaller in scale compared to previous reductions overseen by former CEO Bob Iger. Between 2023 and 2025, multiple rounds of layoffs eliminated approximately 8,000 workers, which resulted in cost savings of $7.5 billion, exceeding Disney’s initial forecasts.
More recently, in June 2025, Disney conducted a round of layoffs affecting several hundred employees globally. Those cuts targeted various divisions of Disney Entertainment, including:
- Film and television marketing
- Television publicity, casting, and development
- Corporate financial operations
The June 2025 reductions were the fourth and largest round of layoffs within a 10-month period affecting Disney’s television operations.
Company Scale and Market Response
As of the end of the most recent fiscal year, Disney’s global headcount was slightly over 230,000 employees, though the majority of these are part-time workers at theme parks.
Following the reports of the planned layoffs on April 9, 2026, Disney’s stock was slightly down in early trading. Disney declined to comment on the report when contacted by Deadline.