Geoff Morrell Out at Disney After Only a Few Months – The Hollywood Reporter

Geoff Morrell, the chief company affairs officer for The Walt Disney Co., is leaving after simply three months on the job “to pursue different alternatives,” Morrell and Disney CEO Bob Chapek instructed workers Friday.

“After three months on this new function, it has develop into clear to me that for quite a few causes it’s not the fitting match,” Morrell instructed workers in an electronic mail.

The previous BP government and Bush-era Pentagon spokesman joined Disney earlier this 12 months within the new function, which included oversight of Disney’s communications authorities relations and public coverage efforts.

All three of these areas had been examined in current months, as the corporate navigated its response to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Homosexual” invoice. After initially arguing that Disney ought to stay as apolitical as attainable, Chapek and the corporate handled backlash from workers who felt that it didn’t have their backs.

Finally, the corporate would take a public place opposing the invoice, however by that time it was too late, and was signed into regulation by Gov. Ron DeSantis just some weeks later. After the signing, Disney argued that it ought to be repealed, or reversed in courtroom.

That place in flip earned the ire of Republican lawmakers within the state, who handed a invoice (which DeSantis additionally signed) revoking Disney’s particular district round Walt Disney World.

Chapek instructed workers that Kristina Schake will lead international communications going ahead, reporting to him, with authorities relations and public coverage being led by Disney basic counsel Horacio Gutierrez. Schake had joined Disney earlier this month, reporting to Morrell.

“Kristina has a strategic method and collaborative fashion, in addition to relentless optimism and a robust appreciation of our model and its place on the earth,” Chapek wrote of Schake. “These attributes will likely be invaluable as she works to guard and improve our status.”

Learn Chapek’s electronic mail to workers beneath.

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I’m writing to share the information that Geoff Morrell, our Chief Company Affairs Officer, is leaving the corporate to pursue different alternatives. Fortuitously, the energy and expertise of our current management group—together with comparatively new all-star hires—means there isn’t any scarcity of expertise to information our reputation-driving capabilities. With Geoff’s departure, I’m happy to share the next modifications:

First, Kristina Schake will lead The Walt Disney Firm’s communications efforts, serving as our Govt Vice President, International Communications reporting on to me. On this expanded function, Kristina could have oversight for company and section communications and proceed to be our chief spokesperson. Our enterprise section and content material communications leads will proceed to twin report back to each division management and company communications, now led by Kristina.

We’re extremely lucky to have Kristina with us at this essential time. Her 30-plus years of expertise contains roles main President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine training program, communications for Instagram, and management positions in political campaigns and the Obama White Home. Kristina has a strategic method and collaborative fashion, in addition to relentless optimism and a robust appreciation of our model and its place on the earth. These attributes will likely be invaluable as she works to guard and improve our status, and I’m thrilled to be working along with her extra carefully.

Subsequent, Authorities Relations and International Public Coverage will now be led by our Normal Counsel, Horacio Gutierrez. Since becoming a member of the corporate earlier this 12 months, Horacio has built-in seamlessly into the Disney household, and has rapidly develop into a valued advisor to me and the management group on a variety of points. His intensive expertise main these areas will likely be extremely helpful in driving our efforts.

Along with his present direct stories, Susan Fox, Senior Vice President for Authorities Relations, and Yvonne Pei, Senior Vice President, Exterior Relations, Higher China, will be a part of Dorothy Attwood, Senior Vice President, International Public Coverage, in reporting on to Horacio.

Lastly, Jenny Cohen, Govt Vice President, Company Social Duty, will now report solely to me in her function main our CSR and ESG efforts. Jenny is a robust chief, and has accomplished unimaginable work modernizing our method in key areas like environmental sustainability, group funding, and philanthropy.

I’m extremely assured on this group, and stay up for working with them and all of our management to set Disney’s course for the following 100 years of extraordinary leisure and experiences.