Disney is close to naming Thomas Mazloum as the next Chairman of Disney Experiences, according to a Bloomberg report.
An announcement about Mazloum could come as soon as this week, said people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information with Bloomberg.
Mazloum currently serves as President of Disneyland Resort. The position would make him the successor to Josh D'Amaro, who becomes Disney CEO on March 18, 2026.
Disney has not made any public comments about succession plans for the Disney Experiences chairman position.
Mazloum's Background
Mazloum leads 36,000 cast members at Disneyland Resort, overseeing Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks, three resort hotels, and the Downtown Disney District.
He is guiding the resort through its 70th anniversary celebration and DisneylandForward, which will enable expansion and investment in Anaheim for the next 40 years.
Before leading Disneyland Resort, Mazloum served as President of Disney Signature Experiences, where he led Disney Cruise Line during a period of expansion. Under his leadership, the cruise business secured investments and development plans to double the fleet size by 2031, build a second island destination in The Bahamas, and sail to new ports worldwide.
As President of Disney Signature Experiences, Mazloum also oversaw Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, Golden Oak, Aulani, Disney Institute, and Storyliving by Disney.
Prior to that role, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World Resort, overseeing 31 resort hotels, Disney Springs, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and transportation operations.
Early Disney Career
Mazloum began his Disney career in 1998 as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line. He later served as General Manager of Food & Beverage and Special Events at EPCOT.
Before returning to Disney in 2017, he was Chief Operating Officer for Crystal Cruise Line.
Born in Austria, Mazloum earned his degree in hotel management and administration in Innsbruck. He has received business certifications from Cornell University, the Hotel School of Lausanne, and the Hotel School of Salzburg.
Why Mazloum
Mazloum's background combines theme park operations, cruise line leadership, and international hospitality experience.
His path to the chairman role follows a similar trajectory to D'Amaro's career. D'Amaro became Chairman of Disney Experiences in 2020 after serving as President of Walt Disney World Resort. Before that, he held the President role at Disneyland Resort.
Mazloum's experience leading Disney Signature Experiences gave him oversight of multiple business lines beyond theme parks, including the cruise division that is undergoing major expansion.
His current role leading Disneyland Resort and DisneylandForward positions him to manage large-scale development projects, a requirement for the chairman position given ongoing expansion plans across Disney parks worldwide.
Other Candidates
Two other executives were positioned as potential candidates for the role.
Jeff Vahle serves as President of Walt Disney World Resort, overseeing approximately 80,000 cast members. He has been with Disney for 36 years and manages the company's largest single resort property. Vahle also oversees Worldwide Safety, Health, Engineering and Sourcing for Disney Experiences.
Ken Potrock is President of Major Events Integration for The Walt Disney Company. He previously served as President of Disneyland Resort before Mazloum took the position. Potrock has 30 years of Disney experience and currently leads the company's engagement across major sports, entertainment, and tourism events.
What the Role Requires
The Disney Experiences chairman oversees the company's largest business segment, which generated $36 billion in annual revenue in FY2025 and employs 185,000 Cast Members worldwide.
The position manages 12 theme parks, 57 resort hotels, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney Consumer Products.
Current projects under development include a Monsters, Inc.-themed land at Disney Hollywood Studios, an Avatar area at Disneyland Resort, and Magic Kingdom's largest-ever expansion featuring Cars and Disney Villains lands. The chairman also oversees Disney's first Middle East theme park in Abu Dhabi.
Timeline
If Bloomberg's report is accurate, an announcement could come this week.
D'Amaro was named CEO on Monday, February 3. He will officially take over from Bob Iger at Disney's Annual Meeting on March 18, 2026.
The timing of a Disney Experiences chairman announcement before D'Amaro's CEO transition would provide continuity for the division and allow D'Amaro to work with his successor during the leadership change.
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