Josh D'Amaro, the Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, has informed staff that the entertainment giant is implementing layoffs. The announcement comes less than one month into D'Amaro's tenure as CEO, having taken over from Bob Iger.
The decision follows the company's earlier unification of its enterprise marketing and brand teams in 2025. D'Amaro communicated the news to employees in a Tuesday morning memo, a copy of which was obtained by Business Insider.
CEO Addresses Impact of "Difficult Decisions"
In the internal communication, D'Amaro acknowledged the contribution of those affected. "Those that will be leaving us have done meaningful work here and care deeply about this company," the CEO stated. He sought to separate the layoffs from individual performance, adding, "These decisions are not a reflection of their contributions, or of the overall strength of the company."
Despite the cuts, D'Amaro expressed confidence in Disney's future direction. "Despite these difficult decisions, I remain optimistic about where we're headed as a company," he wrote in the memo.
Challenges Mark New CEO's First Month
The layoffs represent the latest in a series of challenges for D'Amaro during his initial weeks as CEO. A planned partnership with artificial intelligence firm OpenAI was dissolved after the AI company wound down its Sora video generation app. Disney had intended to use user-generated AI videos to boost engagement on its Disney+ streaming platform.
Furthermore, shortly after D'Amaro's appointment, Disney-owned network ABC shelved a highly anticipated season of "The Bachelorette." The decision followed controversy surrounding the show's intended star, Taylor Frankie Paul.
The full text of CEO Josh D'Amaro's memo to staff regarding the layoffs is available for review.