Disney Imagineering Finance Chief Departs
The finance chief of Disney Imagineering has departed, part of a broader wave of CFO moves at major corporations. The high-level change comes as other large firms like Delta, L3Harris, and McKesson also see shifts in their financial leadership.
The change comes as Walt Disney Imagineering (WDE) operates under a broader corporate mandate of significant cost savings. CEO Bob Iger has targeted $7.5 billion in annualized efficiencies across the company, a goal that has already led to thousands of job cuts and a strategic restructuring of Disney into three main divisions: Entertainment, ESPN, and Experiences. The finance role for Imagineering is situated within the larger Disney Experiences segment, which has become the company's most profitable division, delivering record revenue. This segment's financial health is critical as it is earmarked for a massive $60 billion investment over the next decade to "turbocharge" growth with projects like Villains Land and Tropical Americas. The departing finance head for the overall Disney Experiences division is Kevin Lansberry, who is retiring in February 2026 after a 39-year career with the company. His successor is Michael Moriarty, who notably is a former CFO of Walt Disney Imagineering, bringing a deep understanding of the creative division's financial needs to the broader role. This leadership shuffle occurs as Imagineering itself is in a rebuilding phase. The division reportedly lost veteran designers and faced budget-slashing and morale issues under former CEO Bob Chapek, with some projects being suspended. The return of veteran Imagineer Bruce Vaughn is seen as a move to restore the division's creative and operational strength. The financial strategy for new park attractions is under intense scrutiny. The upcoming Space Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland is now budgeted at 70.5 billion yen (approx. $460 million USD), making it one of the most expensive attractions ever built, reflecting rising global construction costs. This highlights the immense capital allocation decisions the new financial leadership will face. This executive transition is part of a much larger succession plan at the highest level of The Walt Disney Company. Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, is set to take over as the new CEO of the entire company from Bob Iger on March 18, 2026. D'Amaro's own pay package for his first year is valued at roughly $45 million.
