Disney Names New Head Of Walt Disney Imagineering

The Walt Disney Company has named Bob Weis the new president of Walt Disney Imagineering, the arm of the company that oversees the design of its theme parks, cruise lines and resorts around the world.

The appointment was announced in a memo today by Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Weis is heading up the company’s efforts for the Shanghai Disneyland Resort. Before that, he was the creative lead on the expansion of Disney California Adventure, which culminated in the addition of Cars Land at the theme park.

He was also the creative lead on the Disney/MGM Studios, now called Disney’s Hollywood Studios, that opened at Walt Disney World in 1989, and oversaw the development of the Tower of Terror.

Weis also worked on Tokyo Disneyland in the early 1980s.

He left the company for a while, and worked with others on a variety of projects. Bruce Vaughn, the former Chief Creative Executive at WDI will help Weis with the transition, before leaving the company to explore other opportunities. Craig Russell has served as a co-executive leader of the company, and will take on a new role focusing on project execution and integration around the world, according to the memo from Chapek released by the company.

Source: The Orange County Register, Mark Eades
Photo: Bob Weis, in this 2010 photo discussing the expansion of Disney California Advenure, has been named the president of Walt Disney Imagineering. (Joshua Sudock)

Mark Eades worked for Walt Disney Imagineering from 1982 to 1993.