News Catherine Powell's position eliminated

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Surfin' Tuna

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I wonder if this is related to the dip in attendance numbers or unrelated. There have been rumors of changes happening, but I think many were hopeful it would be someone else...

www.bloomberg.com

Disney’s U.S. Parks Chief Leaves After 15 Years With Company

Catherine Powell, who ran the U.S. and Paris theme parks for Walt Disney Co. during the opening of two new Star Wars lands, is leaving the company.
www.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com
 
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Lilofan

Well-Known Member
Surfin' Tuna said:
I wonder if this is related to the dip in attendance numbers or unrelated. There have been rumors of changes happening, but I think many were hopeful it would be someone else...

www.bloomberg.com

Disney’s U.S. Parks Chief Leaves After 15 Years With Company

Catherine Powell, who ran the U.S. and Paris theme parks for Walt Disney Co. during the opening of two new Star Wars lands, is leaving the company.
www.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com
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One more level to be eliminated. Now the Pres of Disneyland and WDW now report directly to Chapek. Catherine Powell is not going to leave empty handed ( generous severance package). Can be a highly paid " consultant " like former exec Dan Cockerell who actually left on his own.
 
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TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
What a hilariously blunt official statement on her sudden departure!

"The 15 year veteran is departing to do something different, Disney said Monday."

I guess the old standby "leaving to spend more time with family" has become a tad too cliche' for just meaning "fired".

"Departing to do something different." That about sums it up. :D
 
mickeyfan5534

mickeyfan5534

Well-Known Member
Magic Feather said:
Wow, shocked to see her out. I have heard nothing but good things about her from people on all tiers. I suspect there being more to this than her simply being “the fall guy.”
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I can't think of another exec in the company who truly gets the parks like she did. I'm normally a head above the water guy most of the time (though I am not a fan of the void of charisma that is Bob Chapek in the least) but this was a decision that really sticks a middle finger to that entire segment of the company.
 
brb1006

brb1006

Well-Known Member
mickeyfan5534 said:
I can't think of another exec in the company who truly gets the parks like she did. I'm normally a head above the water guy most of the time (though I am not a fan of the void of charisma that is Bob Chapek in the least) but this was a decision that really sticks a middle finger to that entire segment of the company.
Click to expand...
I actually found footage of her giving a speech on Disneyland Paris's 25th Anniversary day. This video shows the entire Grand Celebration and is 50 minutes long.


She was also seen at the Disneyland Paris FanDaze event in this video.
 
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TrojanUSC

Well-Known Member
The development that division Presidents didn't report directly to the Chairman (or head of the business unit pre-Chairman title) was relatively new. It was created when Al Weiss was promoted out of WDW and became President of WW Operations. Al then left suddenly under... unusual circumstances. Meg Crofton then took the job and I believe upon her departure it was split into the current "Eastern" and "Western" regions. This is just a return to what it was previously.
 
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Lilofan

Well-Known Member
trojanjustin said:
The development that division Presidents didn't report directly to the Chairman (or head of the business unit pre-Chairman title) was relatively new. It was created when Al Weiss was promoted out of WDW and became President of WW Operations. Al then left suddenly under... unusual circumstances. Meg Crofton then took the job and I believe upon her departure it was split into the current "Eastern" and "Western" regions. This is just a return to what it was previously.
Click to expand...
Al Weiss, that's a known exec. Didn't he afterwards run that nail and beauty salon / Marliyn Monroe spa?
 

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