Disney Stores Chief to Rule Magic Kingdom
Ushering in a new generation of leadership, Walt Disney Co. announced Monday that the head of its Disney Stores division has been appointed president of Disneyland.
Paul Pressler, who joined Disney in 1987, also will be in charge of the Disneyland Hotel and other resort venues in Anaheim, including the planned $3-billion Disneyland Resort. The 38-year-old executive’s promotion marks the first time since Disneyland opened in 1955 that park operations will be commanded by someone other than a protege of founder Walt Disney.
Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael D. Eisner said supporters of the expansion “should be encouraged” by Pressler’s promotion.
“We are connected at the hip to Anaheim,” Eisner said. “I decided to put one of our best people there to get done what has to get done.”
He added that even though Pressler comes from the retail side of the corporation and not the park side, Pressler is a “star executive” within the company. “He has impressed me and the company in many different areas,” Eisner said.
Pressler’s promotion continues two Disney corporate customs: promoting from within and moving people up several rungs on the corporate ladder at one time.
Within Disney, Pressler is known for his aggressive expansion of the successful Disney Stores empire.
“I’m terribly excited,” said Pressler, whose official title will be president of Disneyland Resort. “I think it’s going to be a tremendous decade for Disneyland. In a lot of ways I’m in awe because I’ll be in the house that Walt built.”
James C. Goss, who follows Disney for the brokerage Duff & Phelps in Chicago, said the selection of Pressler shows that the company is putting Disneyland’s future growth in the hands of someone who has engineered vigorous growth in another part of the Disney kingdom.
“If they’re trying to expand the park, that may be a different challenge than managing what’s already there,” Goss said.
Pressler takes over at a time when many Orange County political and business leaders are concerned about the direction of the aging theme park and Disney’s commitment to its much-delayed expansion, which would include 1,800 new hotel rooms, a shopping district and a second theme park called Westcot.
Pressler, who fills the vacancy left last year by the retirement of Jack L. Lindquist, was promoted over other high-level park executives, including Norm Doerges, executive vice president of park operations.
“Paul is a talented, creative business executive,” Eisner said. “He is fiscally sophisticated, he nurtures great ideas, and he knows how to see them through. I know that Disneyland will thrive under his leadership. He is one of the many talented young executives at the Walt Disney Co.”
As president of the Disney Stores, Pressler was responsible for their overall operation and business strategy. Under his leadership, the stores grew from 160 to 335 in eight countries. And, Disney officials said, there are plans to increase that number to more than 600.
“Paul’s expertise as a strategic thinker, marketer and operator, combined with his entertainment sense and knowledge of Disney, gives us the perfect executive to grow our West Coast attractions and lead them into the next century,” said Judson Green, president of Walt Disney Attractions.
Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly pronounced the selection of Pressler as good news for the city.
“It’s another indication that the Disney company views Disneyland and everything around as a true resort area,” Daly said. “I think it’s a very positive message.”
Nonetheless, to some city and business officials in area, who cultivated close relationships with the Walt-era leaders, Pressler is relatively unknown.
“Who is he?” asked Councilman Irv Pickler. “It’s a new name to me. We all knew that change was coming, and they seem to be going to the younger core. I guess it’s the end of an era.”
Councilman Bob D. Simpson said, “I’ve never heard of the guy in my entire life.” Simpson said his “biggest surprise is that it’s not somebody from within Disneyland. I’m not trying to second-guess Mr. Eisner, but I thought it would be somebody from within the ranks of the park.”
Green said that although Pressler does not come from the park side of the corporation, he is “very aware of the Disney Culture” and has tremendous “entrepreneur instincts” that will help move the resort project along.
Among his accomplishments, Green said, was last week’s opening of the first Disney Gallery, in MainPlace/Santa Ana mall. The store sells upscale Disney arts and memorabilia.
“If the gallery works, they want to expand it pretty aggressively,” analyst Goss said.
Pressler, who lives in Pacific Palisades, is a New York native and father of two who joined Disney in 1987 as senior vice president of Disney Licensing and became senior vice president of Consumer Products before moving to Disney Stores as executive vice president and general manager.
Prior to his Disney employment, he had been vice president of marketing and design for Kenner-Parker Toys from 1982 to 1987.
Paul Pressler
Age: 38
New title: President of Disneyland Resort
Duties: Oversees Disneyland Park, Disneyland Hotel and proposed $3-billion Disneyland Resort expansion
Previous: President of Disney Stores, oversaw expansion from 160 to 335 stores
Hometown: New York
Alma mater: State University of New York at Oneonta
Family: Married with two children
Residence: Pacific Palisades
