Disney has announced layoffs this week to “streamline our operations,” as stated by CEO Josh D’Amaro in a memo to employees on Tuesday.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the company is cutting approximately 1,000 positions. This decision is largely due to the creation of a unified enterprise marketing division led by Asad Ayaz, the chief marketing and brand officer. The layoffs will affect marketing roles across Disney’s various segments, including its studios, TV networks, ESPN, product and technology departments, and corporate groups.
In his message to employees, D’Amaro mentioned that the new enterprise marketing and brand organization aims to “serve consumers in an even more connected way.”
Over the past months, Disney has been exploring ways to streamline operations across different areas of the company. The goal is to maintain the world-class creativity and innovation that Disney fans value and expect. D’Amaro noted that the fast pace of the industry necessitates a continual reassessment of how to cultivate a more agile and technologically enabled workforce to meet future demands. Consequently, roles in some parts of the company are being eliminated, and affected employees are being notified.
D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of these decisions, stating that they do not reflect the contributions of those affected or the overall strength of the company. Instead, they are part of an ongoing evaluation of resource management and business reinvestment.
As of September 2025, Disney reported having approximately 231,000 full- and part-time employees at the end of its fiscal year.
This restructuring marks the first significant action under D’Amaro since he became Disney’s CEO on March 18, succeeding Bob Iger. Before this role, D’Amaro served as the chairman of Disney Experiences.
Read D’Amaro’s memo regarding the job reductions:
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
