Early this morning, Josh D’Amaro confirmed reports that The Walt Disney Company is laying off up to 1,000 employees as part of a broader effort to streamline its marketing and brand operations.
The news, which initially broke last week, comes just months after Disney announced plans to consolidate its marketing efforts across film, television, and streaming under Chief Marketing and Brand Officer Asad Ayaz.
variety
While the process began under Bob Iger, it was D’Amaro who faced the consequences.
“We have experienced a great deal of change these last few years, both at the company and across our industries,” he wrote in a memo to employees.
Photo: Disney
“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.”
Marvel Studios Hit Hard by Layoffs
While the prevailing assumption has been that the layoffs would primarily impact marketing teams, a new report from Forbes indicates that Marvel Studios has also been significantly affected.
Image: Marvel.com
According to the report, Marvel’s visual development team, which includes artists, illustrators, and designers, has largely been eliminated.
Going forward, the unit is expected to hire on a per-project basis.
Source: Complex.com
While it remains to be seen how the visual development pipeline will operate under this new structure, sources indicate that the cuts are tied to a reduction in Marvel’s production slate and to broader cost-cutting measures across Disney.
Notably, the positions are not being eliminated due to AI.
Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
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