Disney Chief Cites Tech Advancements as Driving Force Behind Layoffs

Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, addressed the recent layoffs at Disney in an interview. The company has undergone a number of layoff rounds this year, including one that affected several hundred employees in tech and HR.

The latest round came after a voluntary retirement program, which itself followed a layoff of around 1,000 employees in July, primarily at Nat Geo and Pixar. Walden acknowledged the pain of these layoffs, stating 'It is extremely painful.'

According to Walden, Disney's structure was a major factor in the need for layoffs. The company has undergone a series of acquisitions, resulting in multiple executives running their own individual businesses with profit-and-loss statements. As the business evolved, this structure became unsustainable.

To adapt, Disney had to centralize and function as a single television business, rather than a group of silos. This required evaluating how many employees were needed to remain agile and competitive.