Disney Nearing Decision on Thomas Mazloum as Disney Experiences Chairman

Disney is closing in on its next big leadership decision — and according to Bloomberg, Thomas Mazloum is the frontrunner to become Chairman of Disney Experiences.

A Bloomberg report published March 10, 2026 says an announcement about Thomas Mazloum as Disney Experiences Chairman could come as soon as that week. The move would make Mazloum the successor to Josh D’Amaro, who officially becomes Disney CEO on March 18 when Bob Iger steps down at the company’s Annual Meeting. Here’s everything you need to know about who Mazloum is, why he’s the leading candidate, and what this means for Disney Parks.

Quick Summary

• Bloomberg reports Disney is nearing a decision on Thomas Mazloum as Chairman of Disney Experiences
• Mazloum currently serves as President of Disneyland Resort
• He would succeed Josh D’Amaro, who becomes Disney CEO on March 18, 2026
• Disney Experiences oversees $36 billion in annual revenue and 185,000 Cast Members
• Jeff Vahle and Ken Potrock were also considered for the role

Who Is Thomas Mazloum?

If you’re not familiar with Mazloum yet, you’re about to be. He has spent nearly three decades building one of the most well-rounded résumés in Disney’s leadership pipeline.

Mazloum joined Disney in 1998 as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line. From there he rose through the ranks, eventually serving as General Manager of Food & Beverage and Special Events at EPCOT before leaving briefly for Crystal Cruise Line, where he was Chief Operating Officer. He returned to Disney in 2017 and hasn’t looked back.

His most recent major role before Disneyland was President of Disney Signature Experiences — a position that put him in charge of Disney Cruise Line during one of its most aggressive expansion phases. Under his watch, the cruise fleet secured plans to double in size by 2031, a second island destination in The Bahamas was announced, and the line expanded to new ports worldwide. He also oversaw Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, Golden Oak, Aulani, and Storyliving by Disney in that role.

Before that, he was Senior Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World Resort, managing 31 resort hotels, Disney Springs, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and all transportation operations.

Thomas Mazloum as Disney Experiences Chairman: Why It Makes Sense

Mazloum’s path to the top job mirrors D’Amaro’s almost exactly. D’Amaro became Chairman of Disney Experiences in 2020 after serving as President of Walt Disney World Resort — and before that, President of Disneyland Resort. Mazloum is currently President of Disneyland Resort, having led it through its 70th anniversary celebration and the launch of DisneylandForward, a massive 40-year expansion plan for the Anaheim property.

What sets Mazloum apart from a typical theme park operator is his breadth. The Disney Experiences chairman role doesn’t just cover theme parks — it covers Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Consumer Products, and international expansion. Mazloum has hands-on experience with all of these business lines. That’s a rare combination.

What the Role Actually Oversees

Disney Experiences is the company’s largest business segment. It generated $36 billion in annual revenue in FY2025 and employs 185,000 Cast Members worldwide. The chairman oversees:

• 12 theme parks across the globe
• 57 resort hotels
• Disney Cruise Line
• Walt Disney Imagineering
• Disney Consumer Products

Current major projects include the Monsters, Inc.-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, an Avatar-themed area at Disneyland Resort, Magic Kingdom’s largest-ever expansion featuring Cars and Disney Villains lands, and Disney’s first theme park in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi. Whoever steps into the chairman seat will be managing all of it.

The Other Candidates

Two other executives were in the mix for the Disney Experiences Chairman role.

Jeff Vahle, President of Walt Disney World Resort, brought serious weight to the conversation. He’s been with Disney for 36 years and oversees approximately 80,000 Cast Members at the company’s largest single resort. He also manages Worldwide Safety, Health, Engineering, and Sourcing for Disney Experiences — a broad operational mandate that signals executive-level trust.

Ken Potrock, currently President of Major Events Integration for The Walt Disney Company, has 30 years of Disney experience. He previously held the Disneyland Resort presidency before Mazloum stepped in, and now leads the company’s engagement across major sports, entertainment, and tourism events.

Both are strong leaders. But Mazloum’s combination of cruise line leadership, theme park operations, and large-scale development experience appears to have been the deciding factor.

What This Means for Disney Parks Fans

A leadership transition at the top of Disney Experiences always raises questions about continuity. The good news: Mazloum has been inside the Disney system for most of his career and has been directly involved in the major expansion projects already underway. He’s not coming in cold.

DisneylandForward, the Magic Kingdom expansion, the Abu Dhabi park, the cruise fleet doubling — these were all greenlit and are in motion. A new chairman inherits the strategy, not just the title. That said, Mazloum’s international hospitality background (born in Austria, degree in hotel management from Innsbruck, certifications from Cornell and European hotel schools) suggests he’ll continue the global expansion push that has defined D’Amaro’s tenure.

Thomas Mazloum Disney Experiences Chairman: What to Watch

If Bloomberg’s reporting is accurate, an official announcement could drop any day. D’Amaro’s transition to CEO happens March 18, 2026 — and having a named successor in place before that date would give the Experiences division a clean leadership handoff.

The Thomas Mazloum Disney Experiences Chairman appointment would mark the beginning of a new era for Disney Parks — one built on the same aggressive growth strategy that D’Amaro established, now in the hands of someone who has been preparing for this role his entire career. We’ll be watching for the official announcement and will have full coverage the moment it drops.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!