Walt Disney Imagineering president Barbara Bouza has said that she is leaving the division responsible for designing and developing the company’s theme parks, rides and attractions.
Bouza, who replaced Bob Weis as Imagineering’s president in 2021, wrote on LinkedIn on Sunday (10 March): “It is bittersweet as I wrap up my work as president of Walt Disney Imagineering this month before I create an even bigger impact for world.
“WDI will be in excellent hands with my partner, Bruce Vaughn, chief creative officer, who is an exceptional creative leader.”
As above, Vaughn returned to Disney to co-lead Imagineering in 2023. In her statement, Bouza said she was hired by Disney to “challenge the norm and bring broader global industry perspective and expertise”.
Bouza wrote: “Joining Walt Disney Imagineering in June of 2020, I truly believed humanity needed Disney more than ever. The world was trying to understand the impact of a global pandemic, business disruption, stay at home orders, a reckoning on race, and the growing political divide.
“From there Imagineers endured the pressures of talent reductions, unprecedented hyper-escalation on projects, political crosshairs, and the need to make life-changing decisions with their families around the relocation from California to Florida.”
She is referring to Disney’s proposed relocation of around 2,000 workers from California to a Lake Nona campus in central Florida, as well as Disney’s plans to cut 7,000 jobs in an attempt to save $5.5 billion in costs.
Bruce Vaughn to lead Imagineers
Bouza added: “Through all of this, Imagineers relentlessly created and delivered some of the most impactful projects in the history of the Walt Disney Company.
“This success has fueled the turbocharged growth of Disney experiences through $60bn in investment over the next 10 years that Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro speak of.
“So I want to take this moment to personally thank all Imagineers, past, present and future for making the impossible possible.”
Images courtesy of Disney
