Disney confirmed on Tuesday that Thomas Mazloum, currently president of the Disneyland Resort, will assume the role of chair of Disney Experiences, the division responsible for the company’s theme parks, cruise ships, resort hotels and consumer products. The appointment was announced as part of a broader leadership realignment timed with the company’s upcoming annual shareholder meeting.
Mazloum will succeed Josh D'Amaro, who is set to become Disney’s next chief executive officer on March 18. Speaking about the transition, D'Amaro described Mazloum as "the right leader to guide Disney Experiences into its next chapter."
Mazloum’s career at Disney and in hospitality spans multiple decades and roles. He began his Disney tenure in 1998 as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line and later served as general manager of food and beverage and special events at EPCOT at Walt Disney World. He departed Disney in 2002 to join Crystal Cruises, where he remained for 15 years and rose to the position of chief operating officer.
He returned to Disney in 2017 as senior vice president of operations at Walt Disney World Resort, a role in which he oversaw operational responsibilities including 31 Disney hotels and the Disney Springs retail district, among other duties. In 2020, he was named president of Disney Signature Experiences, placing him in charge of Disney Cruise Line and its expansion plans, which included a program to double the fleet’s size by 2031.
Most recently, as president of the Disneyland Resort, Mazloum managed the two Southern California theme parks, three on-site hotels and the Downtown Disney District. He will formally take on the chair role on March 18.
Disney Experiences also disclosed additional leadership changes that will take effect the same day. Jill Estorino, a 35-year Disney veteran, will become president of the Disneyland Resort. Tasia Filippatos has been appointed president of Disney Parks International, placing her in charge of parks outside the United States; she most recently served as president of Disney Consumer Products. Lisa Baldzicki has been promoted to president of Disney Consumer Products; prior to the promotion she was head of Parks Product Development and Retail for Disney Consumer Products.
The company presented these moves as coordinated changes to its parks and consumer organizations, with each role transfer taking effect on March 18. The announcements outline a clear succession plan for Disney Experiences as D'Amaro transitions to the company-wide CEO role and Mazloum assumes leadership of the parks and consumer-facing businesses.
Contextual note - The scope of Disney Experiences covers theme parks, cruise ships, resort hotels and consumer products. The leadership changes align the division under a new chair while also naming successors for operational leadership at Disneyland Resort and in the company’s international parks and consumer products units.