More changes in Disney Parks executive management, with the biggest impacts at Walt Disney World Resort. Recently, Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy announced that she would be stepping down, to be replaced by Parks Chief Financial Officer Kevin Lansbury. Andy Hopkins will take over for Lansberry, who will serve as the parks interim chief financial officer.
New changes to the executive management of Disney parks
Melissa Valleket, Vice President of Magic Kingdom, will become Vice President of Industrial Engineering and Park Operations.
Sara Riles will replace Valiquette as Vice President of the Magic Kingdom. Ryles is currently the Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Marian Smith, Vice President of Customer Experience, will replace Rayles as Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Varon Kelly will replace Smith as Vice President of Customer Experience. Kelly is currently the Vice President of Disney Sports, which includes ESPN Wide World of Sports and runDisney and Disney Water Parks. His replacement has not yet been revealed.
Those listed above will transition into their new roles by July 9th.
The death of Christine McCarthy
Kristen McCarthy will step down and take family medical leave. You will remain as a strategic advisor.
“Christine McCarthy is one of the most admired financial executives in America, and her influence on The Walt Disney Company through her 23 years of dedicated service cannot be overstated,” CEO Bob Iger said. “She is giving up her financial position as she takes family medical leave, but has graciously offered to move into an advisory position to help her successor take over the tasks she has handled with such experience for so many years.”
McCarthy said, “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity Bob has afforded me to serve as CFO for this iconic company and am proud of the work my talented team has done to put Disney in a position to capitalize on the business possibilities that lie ahead.” “Although I am leaving the position of Chief Financial Officer, I look forward to helping with the transition and will always root for the success of my extended Disney family, who have shown time and time again that determination, teamwork and the pursuit of excellence are an unstoppable combination.”
McCarthy has worked for The Walt Disney Company since 2000. In 2015, she was appointed Chief Financial Officer. Her contract was previously set to expire in December 2022 but has now been renewed to 2024.
In her role, she oversees Disney’s global financing organization, which includes responsibilities such as corporate alliances and partnerships, corporate strategy and business development, investor relations, risk management, and global standards for products and work.
McCarthy is known for her controversial quote, “We can lower the portion size, which may be good for some people’s waistlines,” when Disney Parks stated that they might reduce food portion sizes in order to increase profits.
In order to avoid looking for a new CFO and CEO at the same time, the Disney board is expected to extend Bob Iger’s contract. When Iger returned in late 2022, he only signed a two-year contract with the goal of finding a replacement by then.
It is rumored that McCarthy and Iger were caught off guard by the spending, which led to her resignation.
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