BREAKING: President of Walt Disney Imagineering Barbara Bouza Announces Departure

Katie Francis

The current President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Barbara Bouza, has announced her departure from the company.

Josh DAmaro Barbara Bouza and Bob Iger

Bouza, who joined The Walt Disney Company in 2020, took to Instagram to say her goodbyes before she leaves next month. She has been the President of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) since November 2021, taking over for Bob Weis.

She noted that WDI will still be under the leadership of Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn.

The caption on the post can be read below.

Proudly building upon our extraordinary legacy, Imagineers are shaping a future that inspires humanity.  As one global team of innovative creators and storytellers, we immerse our guests in experiences that make memories of a lifetime.

As a licensed architect I was recruited by The Walt Disney Company to challenge the norm and bring broader global industry perspective and expertise. Joining Walt Disney Imagineering in June of 2020, I truly believed humanity needed Disney more than ever.  The world was trying to understand the impact of a global pandemic, business disruption, stay at home orders, a reckoning on race, and the growing political divide. From there Imagineers endured the pressures of talent reductions, unprecedented hyper-escalation on projects, political crosshairs, and the need to make life changing decisions with their families around the relocation from California to Florida.

Through all of this, Imagineers relentlessly created and delivered some of the most impactful projects in the history of The Walt Disney Company.  This success has fueled the turbocharged growth of Disney Experiences through $60 billion in investment over the next 10 years that Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro speak of. So I want to take this moment to personally thank all Imagineers, past, present and future for making the impossible possible.

It is bittersweet as I wrap up my work as President of Walt Disney Imagineering this month before I create an even bigger impact for world. Stay tuned! WDI will be in excellent hands with my partner, Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer, who is an exceptional creative leader.

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