Disney to lay off up to 1,000 employees amid restructuring
Disney to lay off up to 1,000 employees amid restructuring
Disney plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs as it reshapes its business under Josh D'Amaro, focusing on digital growth amid streaming and box office challenges.
Disney is preparing to cut up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, marking one of the first significant moves under its newly appointed chief executive. The layoffs are expected to hit hardest in the company's recently consolidated marketing department. This round adds to a years-long effort to streamline one of entertainment's largest conglomerates and follows more than 8,000 job cuts since 2022. The company is navigating a difficult transition, adjusting to thinner streaming margins after years of reliable returns from linear television, while also contending with a weakened box office and competition from Amazon and YouTube. The company is redirecting capital toward digital businesses it sees as growth opportunities. At the end of its 2025 fiscal year, Disney employed 231,000 people, with around 80% working in its experiences division—theme parks, cruises, and consumer products—an area that has continued to grow. The cuts have largely affected entertainment, ESPN, and corporate operations. Much of Disney's cost-cutting has been driven by a push to break down long-standing silos between its divisions. In January, the company unified marketing for entertainment, experiences, and sports under a single chief marketing officer, Asad Ayaz, a move aimed at coordinating efforts across brands and platforms. The broader entertainment industry has seen similar headcount reductions at Sony Pictures, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery, with more cuts anticipated if Paramount's acquisition of Warner closes. This round of layoffs underscores Disney's strategy to streamline operations and invest in higher-growth digital initiatives while weathering market headwinds.
