Disney Layoffs of 1,000 Employees Are Underway; CEO Josh D’Amaro Says ‘I Know This Is Hard’

disney is making layoffs this week to “streamline our operations” in varied elements of the corporate, CEO Josh D’Amaro mentioned in a memo to workers Tuesday.

The media firm is eliminating about 1,000 roles, primarily consequently of Disney’s formation of a consolidated enterprise marketing division under the leadership of Asad Ayazchief advertising and model officer, a supply accustomed to the scenario mentioned. The cuts will span advertising capabilities throughout Disney’s studios, TV networks, ESPN, product and expertise, and company teams, the supply added.

D’Amaro, in his notice to workers, mentioned the unified enterprise advertising and model group is “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,” he wrote within the memo. “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,” D’Amaro wrote. “These decisions are not a reflection of their contributions, or of the overall strength of the company. Rather, they reflect our continuous evaluation of how to more effectively manage our resources and reinvest in our businesses.”

Disney reported having about 231,000 full- and part-time workers as of September 2025 (the tip of its fiscal 12 months).

It’s the primary large restructuring motion beneath D’Amaro, who took over as Disney’s CEO on March 18 from Bob Iger. D’Amaro was beforehand the chairman of Disney Experiences.

Read D’Amaro’s memo in regards to the job cuts:

Dear Fellow Employees & Cast Members,

We have skilled a fantastic deal of change these previous few years, each on the firm and throughout our industries. Knowing firsthand how these moments can carry uncertainty, I wish to be open about some troublesome information that might be communicated this week.

In January, we introduced our unified enterprise advertising and model group, designed to serve customers in an much more linked approach. Over the previous a number of months, we’ve checked out methods through which we will streamline our operations in varied elements of the corporate to make sure we ship the world-class creativity and innovation our followers worth and anticipate from Disney. Given the fast-moving tempo of our industries, this requires us to consistently assess the way to foster a extra agile and technologically-enabled workforce to fulfill tomorrow’s wants. As a outcome, we might be eliminating roles in some elements of the corporate and have begun notifying impacted workers.

I do know that is laborious. Those that might be leaving us have finished significant work right here and care deeply about this firm. These selections usually are not a mirrored image of their contributions, or of the general power of the corporate. Rather, they replicate our steady analysis of the way to extra successfully handle our assets and reinvest in our companies.

Compassion and respect stay on the coronary heart of our firm. As we transfer ahead by way of this transition, our precedence is to help these impacted and assist every particular person navigate what comes subsequent with assets, steering, and direct help.

Despite these troublesome selections, I stay optimistic about the place we’re headed as an organization. I’m deeply grateful for all of your contributions and for the dedication, professionalism, and care you carry to your work every day. Even in difficult moments, you proceed to show what makes Disney so particular.

Josh