Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bob Weis Appointed New President of Walt Disney Imagineering

Glendale, CA, USA (January 15, 2015) — In an internal memo, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek announced management changes at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI).

Bob Weis will be the new WDI President, promoted from a Vice President position where he oversaw all creative and design aspects of the Shanghai Disney Resort along with creative oversight of Hong Kong Disneyland.

BOB WEIS PHOTO
Bob Weis

Prior to his work on Shanghai Disney Resort, Weis completed a five year expansion of Disney California Adventure Park. This undertaking completely transformed the park, included The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure attraction and the World of Color nighttime spectacular, and culminated in the highly successful openings of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land in summer 2012.

Weis’ previous projects at Disney include creative leadership over Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Tower of Terror attraction, as well as conceptual design for Tokyo Disney Sea.

Weis also worked on three non-Disney projects that were recognized with Thea Awards by the Themed Entertainment Association – the BattleStations 21 Training Simulation project for the United States Navy, and two traveling exhibitions: Adventures In Movie Making and CSI: The Experience.

Bruce Vaughn, current co-executive of WDI will remain with the company for a few months to assist with a transition period before departing to pursue other ventures.  His co-executive Craig Russell will head to Shanghai and will return to Glendale after the opening of the new resort in an unspecified role.

Outside of WDI, parent corporation The Walt Disney Company has appointed Martha Welborne to the post of Senior Vice President, Real Estate & Global Facilities, reporting to Christine M. McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  In this role, Welborne will drive the Company’s overall real estate strategy while overseeing all real estate development, design, construction, asset management, portfolio management, and facilities support and services. She most recently served as Chief Planning Officer for Countywide Planning for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). In her role at the MTA, she was responsible for planning the long-range future of transportation in Los Angeles County and managing all regional capital development and real estate activities.

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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