Disney’s Executive Shuffle Creates Tension
It seems Disney might not be the happiest place on earth for everyone, especially for one of its key executives.
Reports indicate that Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Entertainment, feels “miserable” after learning he will now report to Dana Walden, the newly appointed president and chief creative officer of Disney. This change, insiders say, has left him feeling quite sad.
Previously, Bergman and Walden served as co-chairmen of Disney’s entertainment division under the outgoing CEO Bob Iger. Both had their eyes on the top job as CEO, but that position ultimately went to Josh D’Amaro, who was leading Disney’s parks division.
Now, Walden is in charge of the entire television, film, streaming, and gaming sectors, which includes oversight over Bergman’s area.
A Disney insider mentioned that Bergman is “very upset and very distressed” about the new reporting structure. They noted that, despite any outward civility, there’s a clear lack of fondness between them.
“She won, and he lost,” said the source, emphasizing the situation’s intensity. It was clear that Bergman was feeling the pressure.
His discontent is tied to Walden’s management of Disney’s entertainment division, which is presently dealing with declining TV ratings and challenges in streaming revenues, along with issues related to franchise fatigue over Marvel and Star Wars content.
Meanwhile, Bob Iger is set to step down at year’s end, paving the way for D’Amaro to take the reins.
A recent announcement laid out the new managerial structure, stating that while Bergman will maintain his role over Disney’s film studios, he will share some responsibilities for the streaming sector with Walden.
Though the announcement didn’t explicitly mention that Bergman would report to Walden, sources noted this omission was possibly to avoid aggravating him further.
Contrary to reports, some close to the situation said that Bergman remains an integral part of the operations and that there’s no competitive tension for the CEO role—characterizing the transition as more of a “two-horse race” between Josh and Dana.
Disney did not comment on the situation. Attempts to reach both Walden and Bergman for input went unanswered.
Other changes announced included Joe Earley and Adam Smith stepping up as co-presidents of Direct-to-Consumer, reporting to both Walden and Bergman. Earley will also focus on content strategy while Smith continues on the tech side for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
In a notable promotion, Debra O’Connell from ABC News has become chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, overseeing various Disney platforms, including Hulu and National Geographic.
Sean Shoptaw, leading gaming and digital entertainment, will now report directly to Walden, while Eric Schrier from Disney Television Studios will report to Earley, focusing on foreign originals in the streaming context.
Some executives, like FX Chairman John Landgraf, will maintain their reporting lines under Walden, and Chief Marketing and Brand Officer Asad Ayaz will report to both Walden and D’Amaro.
An internal memo characterized this restructuring as a key moment for Disney’s leadership. Walden expressed enthusiasm about working with D’Amaro and the leadership team to navigate this new chapter.
However, insiders suggest that the prevailing atmosphere reflects the underlying tensions remaining from the management shakeup—as some executives, while still with the company, might feel a bit overshadowed or envious of the new dynamics.
