On October 4, 2026, Disney Consumer Products will be moved from the Disney Experiences segment to Disney Entertainment. This is one of several changes that have been implemented since Josh D’Amaro became the CEO of The Walt Disney Company earlier this year. With the restructuring of Disney Consumer Products comes some changes in leadership as well. The details of what this will look like were released by Disney this week by Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum and Disney Entertainment – Studios Chairman Alan Bergman.
The restructuring will officially take place on October 4th. When it does, a majority of Disney Consumer Products (DCP) will be moved to Disney Entertainment. This includes DCP’s global licensing and publishing businesses. This will allow them to be more closely aligned with Disney’s creative content groups. Disney Parks Merchandise, Disney Store, and DisneyStore.com will continue to reside within Disney Experiences.
With the transition of a majority of DCP to Disney Entertainment, Cathleen Taff has been named President, Disney Entertainment – Studios and Consumer Products. She will report to Alan Bergman in this role. Along with leading the new-to-this-segment DCP businesses, she will also continue to oversee Production Services, Franchise Management, and Theatrical Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios’ collection of first-in-class studios. This includes Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures. Taff will also continue to lead Disney Theatrical Group and Disney Music Group.
“Cathleen has been an invaluable partner and leader within our team, bringing the same creativity, rigor, and collaborative spirit to everything she does,” said Bergman. “As we bring Disney Consumer Products’ licensing and publishing businesses into Disney Entertainment, there’s no one better suited to guide this next chapter. She understands how to connect our stories and franchises to the ways fans experience them, and she’ll ensure these businesses continue to grow with the same focus and excellence she’s brought to Studios.”
Taff has been with Disney for 32 years. During this time, she has held a range of senior executive roles within the Studios. Her current portfolio includes its technology and operations, labor relations, and franchise groups, as well as Disney’s stage production and music arms. As leader of Disney’s theatrical distribution team, she oversaw two of the biggest years in worldwide box office history. This includes a record $11 billion year in 2019 along with the release of seven billion-dollar films over the past three years. This includes Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, Moana 2, Lilo & Stitch, Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire & Ash, and Toy Story 5 earlier this year.
Lisa Baldzicki will continue to lead the Disney Parks merchandise businesses. With the restructuring, she will also be given expanded responsibility for global Parks merchandise, along with owned-and-operated retail businesses. This includes the Disney Store locations globally and DisneyStore.com. Baldzicki will report to Disney Experience Thomas Mazloum in this role. Moving forward, she will be tasked with leading a newly formed team to identify emerging trends and opportunities and then scale successful ideas throughout the Disney Experiences global portfolio. As Executive Vice President, Global Experience & Innovation, she will also be tasked with working closely with each business’ leadership teams to drive ongoing success for the segment and company.
“Lisa is a proven leader who brings together industry expertise, strategic vision, and a genuine passion for Disney storytelling,” said Mazloum. “I’m thrilled to have her in a new role where her unique ability to anticipate what resonates with consumers and translate those insights into meaningful experiences that can scale will help shape the future of our businesses across Disney Experiences.”
Baldzicki has plenty of industry experience in leading consumer-facing businesses across wholesale, vertical retail, and hospitality environments globally. She has been doing this for nearly three decades. She has a future-focused and data-driven approach that has consistently seen consumer trends coming, identified white-space opportunities, and delivered innovative retail strategies that connect storytelling, product, and experience at scale. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, Parks Product Development & Retail. In this role, she defined vision and business strategy for product and retail portfolios across U.S.-based Disney parks and Disney Signature Experiences.
What do you think of the restructuring of Disney Consumer Products? What do you think about these leaders? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
