It's Official: Thomas Mazloum Named Chairman of Disney Experiences

The rumor mill got it right. Thomas Mazloum has been officially named Chairman of Disney Experiences, the division that oversees every Disney theme park, cruise ship, resort, and consumer product on the planet. He succeeds Josh D'Amaro, who takes over as CEO of The Walt Disney Company on March 18, 2026.

The announcement, made by Disney on March 10, also includes a wave of leadership changes across the Experiences division — with new presidents named for Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks International, and Disney Consumer Products.

The new Disney Experiences leadership team (L-R): Thomas Mazloum, Jill Estorino, Tasia Filippatos, Lisa Baldzicki. Image: The Walt Disney Company

Mazloum Takes the Reins

As we profiled yesterday when Bloomberg first reported the news, Mazloum is a 35-year hospitality veteran who has touched nearly every corner of Disney's guest-facing operations — from cruise ships to theme park hotels to Disneyland itself.

D'Amaro didn't mince words in his endorsement:

"Thomas Mazloum is an exceptional leader with a genuine appreciation for our cast members and a proven track record of delivering growth. His focus on service excellence, broad international leadership, and strong connection to the creativity that brings our stories to life make him the right leader to guide Disney Experiences into its next chapter."

Thomas Mazloum, incoming Chairman of Disney Experiences. Image: The Walt Disney Company

Mazloum's resume reads like a masterclass in scaling hospitality operations. After starting as a receptionist on the Crystal Harmony cruise ship in 1990, he rose to COO of Crystal Cruises before joining Disney in 1998. His Disney career includes launching the Disney Wonder, managing all 31 Walt Disney World resort hotels, leading the Walt Disney World reopening after the pandemic, developing the strategy to double the Disney Cruise Line fleet by 2031 (including the launch of the Disney Adventure in Singapore), and most recently serving as President of Disneyland Resort during its 70th anniversary celebration.

He takes over a division that generated $36.2 billion in revenue and $10 billion in operating income in fiscal year 2025 — surpassing Disney's entertainment and sports divisions combined — and is in the midst of a $60 billion, decade-long investment plan.

A New Leadership Team

Mazloum isn't stepping into this alone. Disney announced three additional leadership changes, all effective March 18 and reporting directly to the new chairman.

Jill Estorino — President, Disneyland Resort

Jill Estorino, incoming President of Disneyland Resort. Image: The Walt Disney Company

Estorino is a 35-year Disney veteran who most recently served as President of Disney Parks International, overseeing Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney Resort, and Tokyo Disney Resort. Under her leadership, international parks saw the opening of Marvel Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris, World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland, Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort, and Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea.

Before that, she served as Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales, where she played an integral role in the grand opening of Shanghai Disney Resort. She'll now take the helm at Walt's original park during a pivotal growth period with DisneylandForward unlocking decades of expansion potential.

"Disneyland is where Walt's dream began," Estorino said. "I'm honored to lead this special resort, deepen community commitment, and support our cast members."

Tasia Filippatos — President, Disney Parks International

Tasia Filippatos, incoming President of Disney Parks International. Image: The Walt Disney Company

Filippatos steps into the international parks role from her position as President of Disney Consumer Products, where she managed the world's largest licensing business — a portfolio spanning $62 billion in annual retail sales across 180+ countries and 100+ product categories.

Her career path is notably diverse. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College and Georgetown University Law Center, Filippatos practiced as a litigation attorney and held senior government positions including Director of Communications at the U.S. Department of Justice and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications at the Department of Homeland Security before joining Disney in 2008.

Her new portfolio includes Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and a planned park project in Abu Dhabi — making it one of the most globally significant roles in the entire company.

Lisa Baldzicki — President, Disney Consumer Products

Lisa Baldzicki, incoming President of Disney Consumer Products. Image: The Walt Disney Company

Baldzicki moves up from her role leading Parks Product Development & Retail, where she defined the vision and strategy for retail products and integrated experiences across Disney's domestic parks. She brings a consumer-led merchandising perspective that shaped how guests engage with Disney products before, during, and after their visits.

She now takes over the global licensing and retail division that Filippatos built into a $62 billion operation.

What This Means for Disney Parks Fans

This is a leadership team built for execution. Disney is in the middle of its largest-ever investment cycle — $60 billion over ten years — with roughly half going directly to theme parks and resorts. That includes $17 billion for Walt Disney World alone, featuring what's been described as "probably the largest expansion ever at Magic Kingdom."

The cruise fleet is set to nearly double in size. A new park is in development in Abu Dhabi. DisneylandForward is reshaping Anaheim. And international parks are riding momentum from a string of successful new lands.

D'Amaro summed it up: "We're in an unprecedented period of growth for Disney Experiences. This team will propel the world-class experiences Disney is known for to more guests across the globe."

All four appointments take effect on March 18, 2026 — the same day D'Amaro officially becomes CEO and Bob Iger transitions to senior adviser (remaining on the board through December 31, 2026).

Sources: The Walt Disney Company, Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, CNBC