Bob Chapek, a 22-year veteran of the Walt Disney Co. was today named chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Chapek has served since 2011 as president of Disney Consumer Products, driving a technology-led transformation of the company’s consumer products, retail and publishing operations.
“Under Bob’s leadership, Consumer Products has seen great success, focusing on brands and a franchise-driven strategy while launching new products and retail experiences that combine technological innovation and creativity,” said Robert Iger, Disney’s chairman and CEO. “He is an experienced and versatile executive well-suited to lead Parks and Resorts into the future.”
Chapek succeeds Thomas Staggs, who was named Disney’s chief operating officer earlier this month, and will report to both Iger and Staggs.
“Bob is stepping into this role at an incredibly dynamic and exciting time for our Parks and Resorts business,” Staggs said. “The ongoing construction of Shanghai Disney Resort as well as the new Avatar-themed land at Walt Disney World continues an era of unprecedented growth and historic expansion.”
A successor to Chapek at Disney Consumer Products was not immediately announced.
Prior to leading Disney Consumer Products, Chapek was president of distribution for Walt Disney Studios from 2009 to 2011. He also served as president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, where he spearheaded the “vault strategy” for the company’s iconic films and transformed the primary format of home entertainment from DVD to Blu-ray.
Before joining Disney in 1993, Chapek worked in brand management at H.J. Heinz Co. and in advertising at J. Walter Thompson.
