Leadership
DPEP leaders lend their experience and expertise across a variety of industries to bring Disney stories and characters to life through innovative, exciting vacation experiences and engaging physical and digital products.
Josh D’Amaro
Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
Josh D’Amaro
Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
As Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Josh D’Amaro oversees the global hub where Disney stories, characters and franchises come to life.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products consists of Disney’s iconic travel and leisure businesses, which include six theme park-resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business; and Disney’s global consumer products operations, which includes the world’s leading licensing business across toys, apparel, home goods, digital games and apps; the world’s largest children’s print publisher; Disney store locations around the world; and the shopDisney e-commerce platform.
In his previous role as President of Walt Disney World Resort, Josh was responsible for leading all facets of business for the resort’s four theme parks, two water parks, 28 resort hotels, four golf courses, two full-service spas, an extensive multi-modal transportation system, Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and the Disney Springs entertainment-shopping-dining complex. He led a cast of more than 75,000—America’s largest single-site workforce—and oversaw the beginning of the destination’s most significant expansion in the last two decades, including the opening of the Disney Skyliner aerial transportation system, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. He also began the development of plans for the 50thanniversary of Walt Disney World in 2021, which will include new entertainment experiences for the Epcot theme park and new attractions across the resort.
Before being named President of Walt Disney World in 2019, Josh was President of the Disneyland Resort, where he opened the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land, and helped initiate development of an upcoming Marvel-themed land.
Josh began his Disney career in 1998 at the Disneyland Resort and held a number of leadership positions across the company. He served as Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy for Walt Disney World Resort and also led the sites’ Resorts & Transportation Operations. Josh also served as Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park as it underwent the largest expansion in its history. His other roles included Adventures by Disney; Sales and Travel Operations at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort; Finance for the Global Licensing division of Disney Consumer Products; and Business Planning and Strategy Development for the Disneyland Resort.
Josh earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University.
Follow Josh on Instagram at @joshdamaro.
Barbara Bouza
President, Business Operations, Design & Delivery, Walt Disney Imagineering
Barbara Bouza
President, Business Operations, Design & Delivery, Walt Disney Imagineering
Barbara Bouza is President, Business Operations, Design & Delivery, Walt Disney Imagineering, overseeing daily operations, development, and project delivery.
As part of the Walt Disney Imagineering senior leadership team under president, Bob Weis, Bouza oversees a highly talented, interdisciplinary team of creative and technical experts from a wide range of backgrounds. She works collaboratively with stakeholders across the business to design, develop, and execute projects for Disney theme parks, attractions, resort hotels, cruise ships, and retail, dining and entertainment centers.
Barbara previously served as Co-Managing Director, Principal of Gensler Los Angeles. In this collaborative leadership role, she brought strategic design management to highly innovative clients, such as Netflix, Amgen, JPL/NASA, Debbie Allen, and the City of Hope. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), she was the 2019 AIA Los Angeles President, and also served on the Board of the Southern California Chapter of the International Interior Design Association.
In the community, Bouza was recognized by The Los Angeles Business Journal as Executive of the Year: Women Making a Difference. This honor recognizes women who lead by example, successfully blending effective business vision with passionate commitment to positively making a difference, both in the world of business and in the communities they serve. She has also been named by Real Estate Forum magazine as a Woman of Influence: California.
Bouza is on the Board of Directors of Imagine LA, a leading not-for-profit dedicated to mobilizing the community to end the cycle of family homelessness and poverty, and is a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects, and the Women Presidents’ Organization. Additionally, she works with nonprofit organizations such as, Girls Inc, and Dress for Success.
Bouza holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and studied in the Graduate Diploma Program at the Architectural Association in London.
Kareem Daniel
President, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing and Chief of Staff, Office of the CEO, The Walt Disney Company
Kareem Daniel
President, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing and Chief of Staff, Office of the CEO, The Walt Disney Company
Kareem Daniel is President, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing (CPGP) and Chief of Staff, Office of the CEO.
As President of CPGP, Mr. Daniel oversees The Walt Disney Company’s global efforts to bring its iconic characters and beloved stories to life through immersive products and experiences enjoyed by millions of fans, families, and Guests each day. Under his leadership, this business is responsible for creating and delivering products across a variety of channels – including Disney store, shopDisney, Disney Parks and the Company’s retail and e-commerce partners – as well as managing the world’s largest licensing organization spanning numerous categories. Mr. Daniel also leads the Company’s games and interactive experiences businesses, as well as Disney Publishing Worldwide, one of the world’s largest publishers of children’s books and magazines.
In his capacity as Chief of Staff, Mr. Daniel serves as a strategic advisor to Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, and his leadership team, contributing to Disney’s mission of entertaining, informing and inspiring people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling. Drawing on his breadth of experience and track record of developing innovative business models, Mr. Daniel helps the Company focus on transformation by anticipating and navigating the rapid business and cultural changes occurring worldwide.
Previously, Mr. Daniel served as President of Walt Disney Imagineering Operations, Product Creation, Publishing and Games, where he oversaw the global design and delivery of all parks, attractions, resort hotels, and cruise ships; the global creation of consumer products and experiences; and the Company’s publishing and games businesses. Before that, he served as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, where he spearheaded key strategic initiatives to drive long-term growth across the division.
Mr. Daniel has held additional roles within the Company including Vice President of Distribution Strategy at Walt Disney Studios, where he focused on maximizing the value of studio content through traditional and emerging business models, and Director of Corporate Strategy, where he worked on a variety of mergers & acquisitions and other strategic projects across The Walt Disney Company.
Mr. Daniel first joined Disney as an MBA intern and later became a Senior Business Planner in Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis. After that, he worked in equity research, as well as investment banking at Goldman Sachs, where he specialized in technology, media & entertainment, and telecommunications, before returning to Disney.
Mr. Daniel holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Stanford University.
Jill Estorino
President and Managing Director, Disney Parks International
Jill Estorino
President and Managing Director, Disney Parks International
Jill Estorino isPresident and Managing Director, Disney Parks International. In this role, Jill oversees the operations and development of Disney’s parks and resorts outside of the United States, including Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort with the Oriental Land Company.
Around the world, Jill’s teams mix legendary guest service with storytelling, creativity and innovation to bring magical memories to life for the millions of fans and families visiting Disney parks each year.
Previously, Jill served as the Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, overseeing a global team of more than 2,000 professionals responsible for innovatively promoting Disney’s global destinations, products, experiences, and signature vacations.
Throughout her career with The Walt Disney Company, Jill has held a variety of site-based and global leadership roles focused on driving visitation and affinity for Disney’s products and offerings. Her past roles include Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Asia Pacific; Senior Vice President, Marketing Strategy; and Senior Vice President of Marketing at both Hong Kong Disneyland and the Disneyland Resort in California.
A widely sought-after speaker and thought leader on brand experience and marketing innovation, Jill is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. She serves as executive champion for several internal and external initiatives focused on elevating women in the workplace.
Jill is a member of the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Executive Committee, as well as the Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Board of Directors. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of National Advertisers.
Tami Garcia
Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Diversity and Inclusion
Tami Garcia
Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Diversity and Inclusion
As Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Diversity and Inclusion, Tami Garcia is responsible for all human resources-related services for approximately 170,000 Disney Parks, Experiences and Products employees worldwide. She oversees employee and labor relations, diversity and inclusion, compliance, recruitment, talent planning, learning and development, organization development, compensation, cast activities and recognition, benefits and workforce planning.
Prior to this role, Tami served as senior vice president of Human Resources where she developed and implemented human resource strategies and programs to align global business needs across the organization. In that role, she also served as the human resources executive for Shanghai Disney Resort.
Tami joined The Walt Disney Company in 1990 as part of the Global Mobility team for Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI). She subsequently held various positions at WDI, including employee relations and human resource generalist. She ultimately oversaw all human resources activities at Imagineering, and in that leadership capacity, helped establish human resources functions for WDI at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Prior to joining the company, she worked at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company from 1985 to 1990 in a variety of human resources positions including recruitment, relocation and human resources information systems.
Tami holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Woodbury University in Burbank, California. She is a member of the Southern California Hong Kong Association and sits on the board of the Southern California-based Verdugo Workforce Investment Board.
Margaret Giacalone
Chief Counsel
Margaret Giacalone
Chief Counsel
Alannah Hall-Smith
Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
Alannah Hall-Smith
Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
As Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Alannah Hall-Smith oversees the domestic and international communications strategy across Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In this capacity, she leads a team that develops and implements strategic programs that drive the segment’s business objectives through a variety of channels including corporate communications, public relations, executive engagement, employee communications, community relations, government relations, corporate citizenship and business-to-business communications.
Prior to her role at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Alannah served as Vice President, Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific and Japan, and was responsible for the corporate communications activities related to the company’s business operations and strategic initiatives across that region.
Alannah lived in Hong Kong for nearly 20 years, and joined The Walt Disney Company there in 2005 as Vice President, Corporate Communications. In 2015, she relocated to Shanghai to focus on Disney’s operations in that market.
Prior to joining Disney, Alannah held senior agency roles with Edelman and Fleishman Hillard, and has an extensive communications background working with multinational clients across the Asia Pacific region.
Alannah is native to Australia and has a Bachelor of Commerce from Griffith University. Alannah was also a Founding Board Member of Women Media Networks, a not-for-profit organization that provides members with professional support, leadership development and networking opportunities.
George Kalogridis
President, Segment Development and Enrichment
George Kalogridis
President, Segment Development and Enrichment
George A. Kalogridis is President of Segment Development and Enrichment for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.
In this new position, George is responsible for the development of strategic and operational business initiatives while developing and scaling best practices at Disney sites worldwide. He will also lead the Disney Institute and National Geographic Live businesses, leverage his nearly 50 years of experience to serve as a strategic advisor to Disney destination operators, and champion segment initiatives in Diversity and Inclusion.
In September of 1971, at age 17, George began his Disney Parks career as a busboy at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, helping to open Walt Disney World. His unique depth of experience will now be put to use in a highly visible second role: helping welcome the world to Orlando as the official Global Ambassador for Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.
George previously served for six years as president of Walt Disney World, leading a cast of more than 75,000. He is also a past president of Disneyland Resort.
From 2006 until his appointment to Disneyland Resort, George served as chief operating officer for Disneyland Resort Paris and was responsible for leading the daily operations of the Resort’s two theme parks, seven hotels and the Disney Village. During his tenure in Paris, George oversaw the highly successful 15thanniversary celebration of the resort. He also played an instrumental role in reorganizing operations to help improve both Guest and Cast satisfaction at the Paris site.
Prior to his role in Paris, George served as senior vice president of Resort Operations for the Disneyland Resort, where he played a significant role in the first expansion of the resort – the opening of Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney. In addition, he was responsible for the daily operations across the resort.
In earlier leadership roles, George served as vice president of Travel Operations at Walt Disney World in Orlando, where he implemented a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that continues to shape how millions of Guests book their travel to Walt Disney World. George also served as vice president of the Epcot theme park, where, in addition to overseeing park operations, he led the Millennium Celebration for The Walt Disney Company.
A graduate of the University of Central Florida, George has long been active in the Central Florida community, serving on the boards of a number of area nonprofits.
Kevin Lansberry
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Lansberry
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Lansberry is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In his role, Kevin is responsible for the financial planning and fiscal management of domestic and international theme parks and resorts, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Walt Disney Imagineering, Revenue Management and Analytics, Global Business Development and Consumer Products.
In his 32 years with the company, Kevin has held a wide breadth of roles domestically at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts in Finance, Business Development, Alliances and Operations.
In 2007, Kevin accepted an operational role as Vice President, Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida. His responsibilities later expanded to incorporate Transportation Operations as well as Sports and Golf Operations. Later, he moved into the position of Vice President, Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
In 2010, he was named Senior Vice President, Worldwide Travel Operations, where he led the Worldwide Call Centers and Consumer Direct Sales Operations for all parks and resorts locations. Kevin served as Senior Vice President, Revenue Management and Analytics for the parks and resorts segment, then SVP/CFO Domestic Business in 2013, adding the international businesses in 2015.
Kevin assumed the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in May 2017, which was expanded in March of 2018 to also include Consumer Products.
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Ball State University and a Master of Business Administration from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College.
Tilak Mandadi
Executive Vice President, Digital and Chief Technology Officer
Tilak Mandadi
Executive Vice President, Digital and Chief Technology Officer
In his role as Executive Vice President, Digital and Chief Technology Officer for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Tilak leads a large and diverse team of technology professionals across the U.S., Asia, and Europe. His team is a fully integrated partner in executing growth and innovation strategies for all businesses in the segment, including theme parks, resort hotels, Disney Signature Experiences (Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Aulani, A Disney Spa & Resort and Golden Oak), food and beverage, consumer products, retail, gaming, publishing and Walt Disney Imagineering.
Tilak’s commercial and consumer focus, as well as his hands-on technical expertise in digital and physical convergence, ecommerce, data science, AI/machine learning, cloud, lean practices, infrastructure operations and information security, provide the foundation for defining and delivering the segment’s end-to-end technology capabilities and roadmap. Tilak and his team deliver relentless innovations and strategic solutions in guest and consumer experiences and products, cast and crew experiences and productivity, strategic business growth and competitive advantages.
Throughout his career, Tilak has consistently led transformative, business-critical, global initiatives well beyond traditional technology functions. He has held progressively expanded leadership roles, while building strong, successful partnerships with senior- and board-level executives across a very diverse set of industries and business cultures, including financial services, hospitality, retail, energy and technology.
As a versatile leader, Tilak has successfully created and led innovative startup teams as well as large, enterprise technology organizations. Prior to joining the company, Tilak served as Senior Vice President, Digital Technologies and Enterprise Growth at American Express, where he oversaw the digitization of the card business and the technical enablement of the business expansion into new growth adjacencies and demographics. He has also held senior, global digital and technology leadership positions at FedEx Office and Dell Online after starting his career as a technical consultant at AT&T Bell Labs.
Tilak holds a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Oregon.
Thomas Mazloum
President, Disney Signature Experiences
Thomas Mazloum
President, Disney Signature Experiences
Thomas Mazloum is President of Disney Signature Experiences, leading several key growth businesses for the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment and inspiring teams around the world to deliver the company’s unparalleled family vacations. Based in Celebration, Florida, he oversees Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, Golden Oak and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.
Before being named to his current role in May 2020, Mazloum served as senior vice president of operations at Walt Disney World Resort, overseeing 30 Disney resort hotels as well as premium services, security and transportation operations at the world’s premier vacation destination.
At Disney Cruise Line, Thomas is responsible for the entire award-winning operation, including the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise ships, as well as Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island in the Bahamas) and Disney’s Port Canaveral cruise terminal. He also oversees the much-anticipated expansion of Disney’s cruise fleet, with three new ships on the horizon, all of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and service for which Disney is well known.
Thomas also leads the team at Disney Vacation Club, the company’s popular vacation-ownership program. The club offers a portfolio of 15 themed resorts, from its newest property, Disney’s Riviera Resort, to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, to properties across Walt Disney World Resort, at Disneyland Resort and in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. His other responsibilities include Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions, the company’s guided group travel businesses, as well as Golden Oak, the company’s luxury whole-ownership community of custom homes at Walt Disney World Resort.
Thomas began his Disney career in 1998 as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line and was instrumental in launching the Disney Wonder, the second ship in the Disney fleet. He later served as general manager of Food & Beverage and Special Events at Epcot. Before returning to Disney in 2017, Thomas served as the chief operating officer of Crystal Cruise Line, leading efforts to define “The Crystal Experience,” a concept that would set the bar for luxury vacations, with a focus on nurturing a positive employee culture.
Born in Austria, Thomas earned his degree in hotel management and administration in Innsbruck. A lifelong learner, he has also received several business certifications from such institutions as Cornell University, the Hotel School of Lausanne and the Hotel School of Salzburg.
Ken Potrock
President, Disneyland Resort
Ken Potrock
President, Disneyland Resort
As president of Disneyland Resort, Ken Potrock leads a workforce of 32,000 cast members and is responsible for all facets of the business, including oversight of two theme parks – Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, three resort hotels and the Downtown Disney District.
Ken is a 25-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company and its Parks, Experiences and Products segment. Most recently he served as president of Consumer Products Commercialization, the company’s global effort to bring beloved characters, brands and stories to consumers via merchandise, games and publishing through the Disney store, shopDisney and across licensing and retail partners.
For most of his Disney career, Ken has led high brand affinity businesses where consumer loyalty and insights were instrumental to growth and expansion, including Disney Vacation Club, the company’s innovative and fast-growing vacation ownership program, Disney Cruise Line, Golden Oak, a luxury residential community in Walt Disney World Resort, and Adventures by Disney, the company's award-winning guided group travel business.
In 2015, Ken led the dramatic expansion and reimagining of Disney Springs, Walt Disney World's iconic retail, dining, and entertainment district. Previously, he was senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises, where he led the rebranding of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. He began his Disney career in 1995 as vice president, Marketing for Disney Cruise Line, where he helped define and launch the company’s bold entry into the cruise industry.
Before relocating to Southern California with his wife and two sons, Ken served as chairman of both the Orlando Economic Partnership and Florida Citrus Sports. He has served on the boards of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, the Heart of Florida United Way and the American Heart Association. In 2018, Ken was honored as a “Father of the Year” by the American Diabetes Association and received the Dorian Boyland Community Service Award from the Central Florida Urban League.
Ken earned his undergraduate degree in marketing from Washington University in St. Louis and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Follow Ken on Instagram at @kenpotrock.
Jeff Vahle
President, Walt Disney World Resort
Jeff Vahle
President, Walt Disney World Resort
Jeff Vahle serves as president of Walt Disney World Resort. A 30-year veteran of the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Jeff has been inspiring teams around the world to deliver the company’s unrivaled brand of family vacations. Jeff oversees a workforce of more than 77,000 Cast Members at four theme parks and 30 resort hotels all located at the world’s premier vacation destination.
In addition to his duties at Walt Disney World Resort, Jeff oversees Facilities & Operations Services for Disney theme parks worldwide. These teams are responsible for engineering, maintenance, construction, utilities, manufacturing, sourcing and procurement, safety and health, and asset management programs.
Jeff began his Disney career in 1990 and is a respected senior executive who is committed to driving creativity and innovation, exceeding guest expectations and delivering long-term business growth. While at Disney, he held a series of high-profile leadership roles in operations, engineering, technology and global support services.
Jeff most recently served as president of Disney Signature Experiences, leading several key growth businesses including Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Golden Oak and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.
At Disney Cruise Line, Jeff was responsible for the award-winning business, including four ships, as well as Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island in the Bahamas) and Disney’s Port Canaveral cruise terminal. Jeff also led Disney Vacation Club, the company’s popular vacation-ownership program. His other responsibilities included Adventures by Disney, the company’s guided group travel business, and Golden Oak, the company’s luxury whole-ownership community of custom homes at Walt Disney World Resort.
Jeff is actively involved in the Central Florida community, currently serving as chairman of the board of directors for Give Kids the World and as a member of the Rollins College Board of Trustees. He previously served on the Central Florida Salvation Army board of directors. Jeff earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and a master’s degree in business administration from Rollins College.
Follow Jeff on Instagram at @jeffvahle.
Bob Weis
President, Walt Disney Imagineering
Bob Weis
President, Walt Disney Imagineering
Bob Weis is the President of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), the creative engine behind experiences found in Disney theme parks, resort hotels and cruise ships. He is responsible for furthering Imagineering’s vision and developing and delivering extraordinary products and experiences that enhance the emotional connection to the Disney brand.
As the creative and design lead for some of Disney’s largest and most successful parks, Bob has decades of experience leading projects around the world. Before becoming President of Imagineering, Bob was the creative executive of Shanghai Disney Resort. Prior to that, Bob completed a five-year transformation and expansion of Disney California Adventure Park. His previous projects include creative leadership over the original concept for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ attraction, conceptual design for Tokyo DisneySea, and work on the first international Disney theme park, Tokyo Disneyland.
Bob has been honored with multiple awards from the Themed Entertainment Association, along with awards for the development of Shanghai Disney Resort, including the China Construction Engineering Luban Prize, and The American Institute of Architects Technology in Architectural Practice Award for the successful implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM).
In addition, Bob serves on the Walt Disney Family Museum’s Advisory Committee, and the Board of Trustees for the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), a diverse and multifaceted cultural and educational component of the Smithsonian Institution.
Outside of the company, Bob’s creative experience includes collaboration with the Smithsonian and other museum projects, and his feature film and documentary projects have been shown on Lifetime and American public television. Bob holds a degree in architecture from Cal Poly Pomona.
Follow Bob on Instagram at @bobweis.
