Josh D'Amaro's First Major Decision as Disney CEO: 1,000 Employee Layoffs

Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro has confirmed layoffs affecting up to 1,000 employees in the company's streamlined marketing and brand organization.

D'Amaro shared the news with employees Tuesday in a memo (see below for the memo in full). The cutbacks reflect consolidation in Disney's marketing areas following the creation of a unified enterprise marketing and brand organization announced in January.

Word of the layoffs surfaced last week. The memo was posted on Deadline.com.

Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro Speaking at 2026 Annual Shareholder Meeting

First Major Decision as CEO

The layoffs represent D'Amaro's first major personnel decision since officially becoming CEO on March 18, when D'Amaro took over from Bob Iger at Disney's Annual Shareholder Meeting. He has spent his first weeks as CEO visiting Disneyland Paris, addressing shareholders, and now announcing job cuts.

Pattern of Disney Restructuring

The marketing layoffs follow a pattern of restructuring under Iger's return as CEO in 2022.

Iger eliminated 7,000 positions across the company in 2023 as part of cost-cutting measures. He also reorganized Disney's corporate structure, combining Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution with other divisions to create the current Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences segments.

D'Amaro was part of the leadership team that implemented those changes while serving as Chairman of Disney Experiences.

Broader Industry Context

Disney's marketing layoffs come as entertainment companies continue adjusting to changing media consumption patterns and economic pressures.

Streaming, digital distribution, and fragmented audiences have transformed how studios and theme park operators market to consumers. Traditional marketing departments built for broadcast and print advertising have had to evolve.

Other entertainment and technology companies have also announced layoffs in recent months as they adjust to economic conditions and business model changes.

Upcoming Earnings Call

D'Amaro will face questions about the layoffs and broader cost management strategy when he presents Disney's fiscal second quarter 2026 results on May 6.

The earnings call, scheduled for 8:30 am ET, will be D'Amaro's first as CEO. Analysts will likely ask about cost savings from the marketing reorganization and whether additional restructuring is planned.

Disney generated $94.4 billion in annual revenue in Fiscal Year 2025. The company has emphasized profitability and operational efficiency since Iger returned as CEO in 2022.

D'Amaro's full memo

Dear Fellow Employees & Cast Members,

We have experienced a great deal of change these last few years, both at the company and across our industries. Knowing firsthand how these moments can bring uncertainty, I want to be open about some difficult news that will be communicated this week. 

In January, we announced our unified enterprise marketing and brand organization, designed to serve consumers in an even more connected way. Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney. Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow's needs. As a result, we will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company and have begun notifying impacted employees.

I know this is hard. Those that will be leaving us have done meaningful work here and care deeply about this company. These decisions are not a reflection of their contributions, or of the overall strength of the company. Rather, they reflect our continual evaluation of how to more effectively manage our resources and reinvest in our businesses. 

Compassion and respect remain at the heart of our company. As we move forward through this transition, our priority is to support those impacted and help each person navigate what comes next with resources, guidance, and direct support. 

Despite these difficult decisions, I remain optimistic about where we're headed as a company. I'm deeply grateful for all of your contributions and for the dedication, professionalism, and care you bring to your work each day. Even in challenging moments, you continue to demonstrate what makes Disney so special.

Josh