There is a lot going behind the executive scenes at Disney, and it includes plenty of moving around in the leadership reshuffling. Let’s take a look at the different announcements made on Friday, April 25, 2014, that include movement at Epcot, Disneyland Paris, and in a brand new Star Wars Studio.
First of all, Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald will be taking over the creative direction of Epcot, and he is as veteran as they come. It is said that Disney is looking to being a major re-Imagineering of Epcot that is going to bring back the original intent and concept of the park.
Fitzgerald is said to be one of Walt Disney’s original Imagineers and has worked on projects such as Horizons, revamping the Pirates of the Caribbean, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and currently the Ratatouille attraction over in Disneyland Paris.
Next up, Scott Trowbridge (WDI Research & Development Team VP for creative) will be put in the head position of a dedicated Star Wars Studio.
With wanting to take full advantage of the very large property Disney recently acquired, they are going to get to work on it. There has been no word yet as to the plans (theme park rides, etc.) on the Star Wars Studio, but we should know something soon.
Trowbridge is also going to be the portfolio leader at the Disneyland Resort. In the past, he had been a huge member of the team that designed Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios and the producer of “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man” attraction and a host of others.
Next, Erin Youngs – current Epcot Vice President – will take the new role of Vice President, Construction, Horticulture, Textile Services, and Distribution Services.
She is replacing Greg Ruse, who is retiring.
The new Vice President of Epcot will be Sam Lau, who will report to Jim MacPhee, who is the Senior VP of Operations and Next Generation Experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Lau was the the VP of Walt Disney Transportation.
That role will now be taken over by Jason Kirk, who will officially become the Vice President of Transportation Operations.
