Disney Career Magic Continues for Hammond's Bob Chapek By: Phil Potempa
Good news from the world of Walt Disney travels fast.
Hammond's own Bob Chapek has been named chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as just announced by Robert A. Iger, Disney chairman and CEO, and Thomas O. Staggs, chief operating officer for Walt Disney Co.
A 22-year veteran of Walt Disney Co., Chapek has served since 2011 as president of Disney Consumer Products, driving a technology-led transformation of the company's consumer products, retail and publishing operations. And he tells me he assumes his new role effective immediately.
"Under Bob's leadership, Consumer Products has seen great success, focusing on brands and a franchise-driven strategy while launching new products and retail experiences that combine technological innovation and creativity," Iger said in a news statement.
"He is an experienced and versatile executive well suited to lead Parks and Resorts into the future."
As chairman of Parks and Resorts, Chapek succeeds Staggs, who was named Disney's COO in February. Chapek will report to both Iger and Staggs.
"Bob is stepping into this role at an incredibly dynamic and exciting time for our Parks and Resorts business," Staggs said.
"The ongoing construction of Shanghai Disney Resort as well as the new Avatar-themed land at Walt Disney World continues an era of unprecedented growth and historic expansion."
Chapek, 54, is a 1977 graduate of Clark High School in Hammond.
"I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had during my years at Disney, and am thrilled to join the incredible Disney Parks organization," Chapek said.
"I look forward to working with the remarkably talented team dedicated to creating magical memories for millions of guests around the world."
Prior to leading Disney Consumer Products, Chapek served as president of Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios from 2009 to 2011 and was responsible for overseeing the Studios' overall content distribution strategy across multiple platforms including theatrical exhibition, home entertainment, pay TV, digital entertainment and new media. He also served as president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, where he spearheaded the successful "vault strategy" for the company’s iconic films and transformed the primary format of home entertainment from DVD to blu-ray.
Before joining Disney in 1993, Chapek worked in brand management at H.J. Heinz Co. and in advertising at J. Walter Thompson. He earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology at Indiana University Bloomington and an MBA from Michigan State University.
"Coming from Hammond, the first thing you consider when thinking about a career is not necessarily working for Disney in Hollywood," Chapek said in a previous interview.
"On the other hand, somebody has to do that job, and why not me?"
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.
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