Walt Disney said Monday it has combined its two smallest divisions, consumer products and interactive, into a single unit jointly run by Leslie Ferraro and Jimmy Pitaro, who were each named co-chairs of what will be known as Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. (THR)
In another sign of his increasingly prominent role at the company, the change was announced by Tom Staggs, who was promoted to COO this year, making him the possible heir apparent to Disney CEO Robert Iger. The change is designed to streamline operations and share technological expertise across the two divisions as they increasingly work on interactive experiences for customers. (Variety)
Under the restructuring, some employees will be moved into new roles, particularly in areas like finance, business development and human resources. But the combination will not result in layoffs, according to a spokeswoman. (NYT)