Newly crowned CEO Josh D’Amaro has announced layoffs across Disney’s operations, diving right into plans to restructure the business and streamline operations. As per the latest updates regarding the workforce reduction plans, about 1,000 employees will be affected by the job cuts. The Disney leader notified employees about the incoming changes via email on Tuesday, highlighting plans to “foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs.” The media and entertainment industry is undergoing considerable changes to align with shifting technological approaches and changes in the audience’s media consumption habits, and layoffs have now become a frequently utilized solution to accommodate the shift.
The 2026 Disney layoffs are expected to hit 1,000 roles as it narrows in on plans to “foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce.” (Image: Pexels)
Disney Layoffs Underway in 2026: What We Know About What’s to Come
Details of Disney’s layoff plans were made available through the memo shared with employees, which was seen by The Associated Press. The job cuts at Disney are expected to affect about 1,000 roles and are primarily a result of the company’s decision to form a consolidated marketing division under Asad Ayaz, who was named the Chief Marketing and Brand Officer earlier this year, in January.
As a result, Disney workforce reduction efforts will center on marketing roles across Disney studios, its TV Networks, ESPN, product and technology, as well as certain corporate groups. Reports from TheWrap suggested that the publicity departments have been hit, as well as the EPK team and the entire home entertainment team. The layoffs have included the dismissal of key names at Disney, including the Director of Creative Content, Natalie Clunis, and the SVP of Global Digital Marketing, Dustin Sandoval.
“Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney,” D’Amaro said in the memo to employees. “Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs.”
Disney’s decision to consolidate its marketing efforts under one leader is a new strategy for the company to explore, but it could ultimately be a beneficial shift towards bringing more cohesion and uniformity to operations.
Leadership Swaps and Layoff Talks
Disney kick-started 2026 with major changes to its operations and leadership right from the start. CEO Bob Iger, who had returned to his role as the leader of the business in 2022 after a two-year break, stepped down from the position to let D’Amaro don the title. Josh D’Amaro, the former chairman of Disney Experiences, has taken to his position with gusto, setting up changes to revive the company’s position in the media and entertainment industry.
The last time Disney underwent large-scale restructuring efforts and layoffs was in 2023, shortly after Iger had taken charge once more. The organization had strived to cut $5.5 billion in costs and, as a result, eliminated 7,000 roles. In a similar vein, the change in leadership has now come with another round of layoffs, although the structural changes to the marketing department were initiated under Iger.
Initiating the reign of a new leader with layoffs isn’t the ideal way to build employee morale and convince them to recommit to new business goals, however, as we’ve seen before, changes in senior leadership often come with changes to the workforce, and its makeup as well. Looking beyond the layoffs, D’Amaro now has the job of setting matters right with the workforce and building their trust in him and his plans for the organization’s future.
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