Geoff Morrell, employed by Walt Disney this yr to run its communications and authorities affairs groups, is leaving the corporate following its contentious battle with Florida’s governor over the so-called “Don’t Say Homosexual” invoice.
Morrell, who had beforehand run communications at BP and the US defence division, was probably the most high-profile exterior executives introduced in by Disney chief govt Bob Chapek as he sought to place his stamp on the corporate following the retirement of his predecessor Bob Iger.
Morrell’s temporary tenure was marked by the corporate’s chaotic response to laws championed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis that restricted instructing about LGBTQ points in public elementary colleges. Lots of Disney’s workers criticised Chapek for not issuing a public assertion condemning the invoice, which was enacted into regulation final month.
Days after writing in a memo that he wouldn’t publicly condemn the laws, Chapek reversed course. The U-turn landed Disney within the crosshairs of DeSantis, who has taken up cultural controversies as he seeks re-election this yr. Final week the governor signed a invoice to revoke the leisure group’s decades-old means to control the realm across the Walt Disney World theme park, a transfer extensively seen as retaliation over the corporate’s criticism of his LGBTQ insurance policies.
Morrell’s temporary was meant to be broader than that of his predecessor, Zenia Mucha, the communications veteran recognized for her bare-knuckle strategy to public relations.
Morrell’s twin roles will now be divided into two jobs. Kristina Schake, who has had roles within the Biden and Obama administrations and was additionally deputy communications director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential marketing campaign, will run communications for the corporate. In a workers memo, Chapek praised her “strategic strategy and collaborative fashion”.
Horacio Gutierrez, Disney’s common counsel, will lead authorities relations.
In a quick memo seen by the FT, Morrell stated: “After three months on this new position, it has grow to be clear to me that for numerous causes it’s not the appropriate match. After speaking this over with Bob, I’ve determined to go away the corporate to pursue different alternatives.”
