ABOUT US

Executive Vice President, Chief Digital and Technology Officer

Gail Evans is Executive Vice President, Chief Digital and Technology Officer for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In her role, she oversees development and implementation of the technology and digital strategy and capabilities roadmap for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, driving innovative solutions and managing system strategies for its businesses around the world. She leads a global team of more than 3,000 digital, data, operations, technology, creative, and product professionals.

Gail most recently served as Mercer’s first Chief Digital Officer since June 2018 where she led a dedicated team focused on driving and delivering Mercer’s digital transformation solutions and technology strategy, partnering with a variety of teams across Mercer and MMC.

Prior to joining Mercer in 2016, Gail held various positions throughout her career, including Partner Program Manager at Microsoft, working across Microsoft Business Groups, Product Engineering and IT teams; Vice President and General Manager at Hewlett Packard; and Technology Executive (SVP) at Bank of America. She held various positions at Eastman Kodak Company, including Technology Executive and CIO of Consumer Digital, leading digital transformations.

In recognition of these achievements and others, in May 2019, Gail was selected as a finalist for the MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award, and in November 2018, Gail received the Phenom Award from the Digital Diversity Network, which honors trailblazers in the digital media and technology sectors. She was also recognized as one of the Top 100 Chief Digital Officers by her peers at hottopics.ht and Hewlett- Packard. Additionally, Mercer Digital was recognized and named to the 2019 Digital Edge 50 for its innovation in digital transformation with Mercer Data Connector, a solution developed under Gail’s leadership. She and her team was also awarded the Digital Edge 50 for AI/Machine Learning/Cognitive Computing.

Gail holds a Bachelor of Science from Nazareth College in New York, an MBA from the Simon School of Business, University of Rochester, and most proudly, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Nazareth College.

President, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing

As president of Consumer Products, Games and Publishing (CPGP), Tasia Filippatos leads the team of world-class product, licensing and retail experts, artists, storytellers, and technologists who bring The Walt Disney Company’s iconic stories and beloved characters to life through immersive products and experiences enjoyed by millions of fans, families, and guests each day.

Under her leadership, CPGP creates and delivers products across a variety of channels, including Disney store, shopDisney, Disney Parks and our retail and e-commerce partners, as well as the world’s largest licensing organization spanning numerous categories. CPGP is also home to the Company’s games and interactive experiences businesses, and Disney Publishing Worldwide, one of the world’s largest publishers of children’s books and magazines.

Prior to becoming president of CPGP, Filippatos oversaw the CPGP business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) as senior vice president. There, she drove the development of commercial strategies spanning all product categories including toys, fashion, publishing, and games across the region, and oversaw Disney Store and shopdisney.com in Europe.

Filippatos joined the EMEA team in October 2018 after leading global communications and public affairs teams for both Disney Parks, Experience and Products (DPEP) and Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. In these roles, Filippatos drove transformative change across these global functions, instilling a business-driven communications approach to enhance the Disney brand.

Filippatos is a member of the CEO’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. She currently also sits on the Board of Directors for global charity Make-A-Wish International and serves on the Development Board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Prior to joining The Walt Disney Company in 2008, Filippatos served in a number of senior level government positions in Washington, D.C. and began her career as a litigation attorney. She is an honors graduate of Claremont McKenna College and received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Diversity and Inclusion

As Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Diversity and Inclusion, Tami Garcia is responsible for all human resources-related services for approximately 170,000 Disney Parks, Experiences and Products employees worldwide. She oversees employee and labor relations, diversity and inclusion, compliance, recruitment, talent planning, learning and development, organization development, compensation, cast activities and recognition, benefits and workforce planning.

Prior to this role, Tami served as senior vice president of Human Resources where she developed and implemented human resource strategies and programs to align global business needs across the organization. In that role, she also served as the human resources executive for Shanghai Disney Resort.

Tami joined The Walt Disney Company in 1990 as part of the Global Mobility team for Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI). She subsequently held various positions at WDI, including employee relations and human resource generalist. She ultimately oversaw all human resources activities at Imagineering, and in that leadership capacity, helped establish human resources functions for WDI at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Prior to joining the company, she worked at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company from 1985 to 1990 in a variety of human resources positions including recruitment, relocation and human resources information systems.

Tami holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Woodbury University in Burbank, California. She is a member of the Southern California Hong Kong Association and sits on the board of the Southern California-based Verdugo Workforce Investment Board.

Chief Counsel

Margaret Giacalone serves as Chief Counsel for the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (DPEP) segment of The Walt Disney Company, which offers world renowned travel and leisure experiences and immersive Disney branded consumer products. In her role, Giacalone oversees all legal matters for the DPEP businesses, including those related to six domestic and international theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, more than 60 resort hotels worldwide, and other unique adventure and expedition travel experiences around the globe.    She also oversees all legal work related to Disney’s Consumer Products, Games and Publishing business, which brings beloved Disney brands and franchises into the daily lives of families through a wide variety of products and games. In addition, Giacalone oversees all legal matters pertaining to the Company’s real estate holdings worldwide.

Previously, Giacalone served as Chief Counsel for Walt Disney World Resort, overseeing all legal matters related to the operation and risk management of its four theme parks, two water parks, resort hotels and other retail, and dining and entertainment venues, including Disney Springs. Prior to that, Giacalone led the litigation team at Walt Disney World, overseeing the management of all lawsuits and claims arising out of the resort as well as Disney Cruise Line.

A passionate advocate for Diversity & Inclusion, Giacalone currently serves as a member of DPEP’s Diversity Council, and previously served as an Executive Champion for Disney’s Women’s Inclusion Network. She has also volunteered as a Pro Bono Juvenile Court Judge with the Teen Court Diversion program in Orange County, Fla., and is a Central Florida YMCA Board Member.

Prior to joining the Company in 1999, Giacalone practiced law with BakerHostetler. She received her law degree with honors from the University of Florida and her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University.

Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs

As Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Alannah Hall-Smith oversees the domestic and international communications strategy across Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In this capacity, she leads a team that develops and implements strategic programs that drive the segment’s business objectives through a variety of channels including corporate communications, public relations, executive engagement, employee communications, community relations, government relations, corporate citizenship and business-to-business communications.

Prior to her role at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Alannah served as Vice President, Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific and Japan, and was responsible for the corporate communications activities related to the company’s business operations and strategic initiatives across that region.

Alannah lived in Hong Kong for nearly 20 years, and joined The Walt Disney Company there in 2005 as Vice President, Corporate Communications. In 2015, she relocated to Shanghai to focus on Disney’s operations in that market.

Prior to joining Disney, Alannah held senior agency roles with Edelman and Fleishman Hillard, and has an extensive communications background working with multinational clients across the Asia Pacific region.

Alannah is native to Australia and has a Bachelor of Commerce from Griffith University. Alannah was also a Founding Board Member of Women Media Networks, a not-for-profit organization that provides members with professional support, leadership development and networking opportunities.

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Kevin Lansberry is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In his role, Kevin is responsible for the financial planning and fiscal management of domestic and international theme parks and resorts, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Walt Disney Imagineering, Revenue Management and Analytics, Global Business Development and Consumer Products.

In his 32 years with the company, Kevin has held a wide breadth of roles domestically at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts in Finance, Business Development, Alliances and Operations.

In 2007, Kevin accepted an operational role as Vice President, Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida. His responsibilities later expanded to incorporate Transportation Operations as well as Sports and Golf Operations. Later, he moved into the position of Vice President, Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

In 2010, he was named Senior Vice President, Worldwide Travel Operations, where he led the Worldwide Call Centers and Consumer Direct Sales Operations for all parks and resorts locations. Kevin served as Senior Vice President, Revenue Management and Analytics for the parks and resorts segment, then SVP/CFO Domestic Business in 2013, adding the international businesses in 2015.

Kevin assumed the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in May 2017, which was expanded in March of 2018 to also include Consumer Products.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Ball State University and a Master of Business Administration from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College.

President, New Experiences Portfolio and Disney Signature Experiences

Thomas Mazloum is President of Disney Signature Experiences, leading several key growth businesses for the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment and inspiring teams around the world to deliver the company’s unparalleled family vacations. Based in Celebration, Florida, he oversees Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, Golden Oak and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

Before being named to his current role in May 2020, Mazloum served as senior vice president of operations at Walt Disney World Resort, overseeing 30 Disney resort hotels as well as premium services, security and transportation operations at the world’s premier vacation destination.

At Disney Cruise Line, Thomas is responsible for the entire award-winning operation, including the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise ships, as well as Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island in the Bahamas) and Disney’s Port Canaveral cruise terminal. He also oversees the much-anticipated expansion of Disney’s cruise fleet, with three new ships on the horizon, all of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and service for which Disney is well known.

Thomas also leads the team at Disney Vacation Club, the company’s popular vacation-ownership program. The club offers a portfolio of 15 themed resorts, from its newest property, Disney’s Riviera Resort, to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, to properties across Walt Disney World Resort, at Disneyland Resort and in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. His other responsibilities include Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions, the company’s guided group travel businesses, as well as Golden Oak, the company’s luxury whole-ownership community of custom homes at Walt Disney World Resort.

Thomas began his Disney career in 1998 as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line and was instrumental in launching the Disney Wonder, the second ship in the Disney fleet.  He later served as general manager of Food & Beverage and Special Events at Epcot. Before returning to Disney in 2017, Thomas served as the chief operating officer of Crystal Cruise Line, leading efforts to define “The Crystal Experience,” a concept that would set the bar for luxury vacations, with a focus on nurturing a positive employee culture.

Born in Austria, Thomas earned his degree in hotel management and administration in Innsbruck. A lifelong learner, he has also received several business certifications from such institutions as Cornell University, the Hotel School of Lausanne and the Hotel School of Salzburg.

President, Disneyland Resort

As president of Disneyland Resort, Ken Potrock is responsible for all facets of the business, including oversight of two theme parks – Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, three resort hotels and the Downtown Disney District.

Ken is a 26-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company and its Parks, Experiences and Products segment. Most recently he served as president of Consumer Products Commercialization, the company’s global effort to bring beloved characters, brands and stories to consumers via merchandise, games and publishing through the Disney store, shopDisney and across licensing and retail partners.

For most of his Disney career, Ken has led high brand affinity businesses where consumer loyalty and insights were instrumental to growth and expansion, including Disney Vacation Club, the company’s innovative and fast-growing vacation ownership program, Disney Cruise Line, Golden Oak, a luxury residential community in Walt Disney World Resort, and Adventures by Disney, the company's award-winning guided group travel business.

In 2015, Ken led the dramatic expansion and reimagining of Disney Springs, Walt Disney World's iconic retail, dining, and entertainment district. Previously, he was senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises, where he led the rebranding of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. He began his Disney career in 1995 as vice president, Marketing for Disney Cruise Line, where he helped define and launch the company’s bold entry into the cruise industry.

Before relocating to Southern California with his wife and two sons, Ken served as chairman of both the Orlando Economic Partnership and Florida Citrus Sports. He has served on the boards of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, the Heart of Florida United Way and the American Heart Association.

In 2018, Ken was honored as a “Father of the Year” by the American Diabetes Association and received the Dorian Boyland Community Service Award from the Central Florida Urban League.

Ken earned his undergraduate degree in marketing from Washington University in St. Louis and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

President, Walt Disney World Resort

Jeff Vahle serves as president of Walt Disney World Resort. A 30-year veteran of the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Jeff has been inspiring teams around the world to deliver the company’s unrivaled brand of family vacations. Jeff oversees a workforce of more than 77,000 Cast Members at four theme parks and 30 resort hotels all located at the world’s premier vacation destination.

In addition to his duties at Walt Disney World Resort, Jeff oversees Facilities & Operations Services for Disney theme parks worldwide. These teams are responsible for engineering, maintenance, construction, utilities, manufacturing, sourcing and procurement, safety and health, and asset management programs.

Jeff began his Disney career in 1990 and is a respected senior executive who is committed to driving creativity and innovation, exceeding guest expectations and delivering long-term business growth. While at Disney, he held a series of high-profile leadership roles in operations, engineering, technology and global support services.

Jeff most recently served as president of Disney Signature Experiences, leading several key growth businesses including Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Golden Oak and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

At Disney Cruise Line, Jeff was responsible for the award-winning business, including four ships, as well as Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island in the Bahamas) and Disney’s Port Canaveral cruise terminal. Jeff also led Disney Vacation Club, the company’s popular vacation-ownership program. His other responsibilities included Adventures by Disney, the company’s guided group travel business, and Golden Oak, the company’s luxury whole-ownership community of custom homes at Walt Disney World Resort.

Jeff is actively involved in the Central Florida community, currently serving as chairman of the board of directors for Give Kids the World and as a member of the Rollins College Board of Trustees. He previously served on the Central Florida Salvation Army board of directors. Jeff earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and a master’s degree in business administration from Rollins College.

Follow Jeff on Instagram at @jeffvahle.

Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney Imagineering

As Chief Creative Officer, Bruce Vaughn co-leads Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) and will lead a renewed focus on creativity and innovation, taking the unlimited number of franchises and stories Disney has, and developing groundbreaking new experiences to delight our guests.

Vaughn most recently rejoins WDI from Airbnb, where he was Vice President, Experiential Creative Product, focusing on creating meaningful connections between travelers and locals around the world through authentic experiences. Prior to that role, Vaughn was the CEO and CCO of Dreamscape Immersive where he worked with teams to advance virtual reality technologies to create an entirely new form of mainstream location-based entertainment.

He returns to Imagineering, where he was previously Chief Creative Executive. Vaughn joined WDI in 1993 as a senior technical specialist. In order to gain experience in various aspects of the WDI process, Vaughn spent time working as a writer for Theme Park Productions and was associate media producer for the renovation of Spaceship Earth at Epcot. Since then, Vaughn has been involved in many efforts that cross over the various divisions of The Walt Disney Company, including Feature Animation, Television, Theatrical, Music, Internet, Consumer Products and Location-Based Entertainment.

Prior to joining WDI, Vaughn worked on the technical staff of Bran Ferren’s company, Associates & Ferren, in East Hampton, New York for five years where he contributed to the development and execution of special effects for various media projects. Vaughn has received several screen credits for feature films, including Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) and Imposter (2001). Vaughn has led R&D teams that received THEA (Themed Entertainment Awards) awards for Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold, Stitch’s Photo Phone and Lucky the Dino.

Vaughn graduated cum laude from Colgate University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a minor in 1art history.