DVC Announces New Leader

[WilsonFlyer]

Per an e-mail just mailed to members.

Global Sales Leader Claire Bilby Named to Top Disney Vacation Club Role

Disney Vacation Club is pleased to welcome seasoned Disney leader Claire Bilby as its new Senior Vice President, with responsibility for all aspects of the business.

Claire succeeds Jim Lewis, who left the company after serving as its president since 2006.

Claire has a distinguished history with Disney, starting in marketing at Walt Disney World Resort in 1988 and taking increasing levels of executive responsibility with the company in Florida, California and around the globe.

She recently served as Senior Vice President of Distribution Marketing and Asia Pacific Sales for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Among her responsibilities were leading all sales channel marketing for Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Travel Company, Adventures by Disney and Disney Institute. She also served as the top sales leader for Disney Destinations' Asia Pacific Region, with responsibilities for Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney's regional sales office in Tokyo and sales offices in Australia and China. Most recently, Claire led the sales organization at Disneyland Resort Paris on a temporary assignment.

"Claire brings to Disney Vacation Club an impressive track record in global sales, as well as an inspirational leadership style and innovative thinking," said Karl L. Holz, President of New Vacation Operations and Disney Cruise Line, and whose responsibilities include Disney Vacation Club.

Claire's many accomplishments include helping to launch several Disney theme parks and serving as a key leader in the milestone 50th anniversary celebration for Disneyland Resort.

 

[mjc2003]

Claire Bilby? Global Sales Leader. Anybody familiar with her?

 

[Deb & Bill]

From: http://www.disneydestinationstradenews.com/Disneyland/Claire_Bilby.cfm

Claire Bilby
Senior Vice President
Sales & Distribution Marketing


Claire Bilby leads the distribution marketing efforts for the sales channels of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida; Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California; Hong Kong Disneyland; Disney Cruise Line; the Disney Institute; and Adventures by Disney. She serves as the sales leader for Disney’s Destination’s Asia Pacific Region, with overall responsibilities for Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney’s regional sales office in Tokyo and its sales offices in Australia and China. She also oversees General Sales Agent offices located in Korea, Taiwan and India.

A seasoned Disney Cast Member, she started her Walt Disney Parks and Resorts career in Orlando in 1988, and then moved to the Disneyland Resort ten years later where she became senior vice president of sales and distribution marketing.

In 2009, she relocated to Orlando to assume the role she now performs. Her distribution marketing team currently develops sales channel marketing strategies for the travel industry, the groups and conventions/meetings industry, military sales, youth sales, wedding sales, and internet sales. Her team also serves as the trade marketing function for the Walt Disney Travel Company, Disney’s wholly-owned travel subsidiary.

Bilby has an impressive depth of experience and leadership in worldwide sales and marketing. She has helped launch several new Disney theme parks, including Hong Kong Disneyland. She also helped to open Disney’s MGM Studios (now called Disney’s Hollywood Studios), Disneyland Paris, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s California Adventure park, and was instrumental in developing a successful 50th anniversary celebration for Disney’s first theme park, Disneyland, in Southern California.

Prior to joining Disney, Claire was regional marketing manager of Hertz’s Corporation’s Southeast U.S. region, where she implemented new product offers and developed new business relationships with hotels, airlines and convention bureaus. Bilby is based at the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts sales and marketing offices in Celebration, Florida.

Prior to joining Disney, Claire was regional marketing manager of Hertz’s Corporation’s Southeast U.S. region, where she implemented new product offers and developed new business relationships with hotels, airlines and convention bureaus.

Bilby is based at the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts sales and marketing offices in Celebration, Florida.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

From: http://www.disneydestinationstradenews.com/Disneyland/Claire_Bilby.cfm

Claire Bilby
Senior Vice President
Sales & Distribution Marketing


Claire Bilby leads the distribution marketing efforts for the sales channels of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida; Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California; Hong Kong Disneyland; Disney Cruise Line; the Disney Institute; and Adventures by Disney. She serves as the sales leader for Disney’s Destination’s Asia Pacific Region, with overall responsibilities for Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney’s regional sales office in Tokyo and its sales offices in Australia and China. She also oversees General Sales Agent offices located in Korea, Taiwan and India.

A seasoned Disney Cast Member, she started her Walt Disney Parks and Resorts career in Orlando in 1988, and then moved to the Disneyland Resort ten years later where she became senior vice president of sales and distribution marketing.

In 2009, she relocated to Orlando to assume the role she now performs. Her distribution marketing team currently develops sales channel marketing strategies for the travel industry, the groups and conventions/meetings industry, military sales, youth sales, wedding sales, and internet sales. Her team also serves as the trade marketing function for the Walt Disney Travel Company, Disney’s wholly-owned travel subsidiary.

Bilby has an impressive depth of experience and leadership in worldwide sales and marketing. She has helped launch several new Disney theme parks, including Hong Kong Disneyland. She also helped to open Disney’s MGM Studios (now called Disney’s Hollywood Studios), Disneyland Paris, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s California Adventure park, and was instrumental in developing a successful 50th anniversary celebration for Disney’s first theme park, Disneyland, in Southern California.

Prior to joining Disney, Claire was regional marketing manager of Hertz’s Corporation’s Southeast U.S. region, where she implemented new product offers and developed new business relationships with hotels, airlines and convention bureaus. Bilby is based at the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts sales and marketing offices in Celebration, Florida.

Prior to joining Disney, Claire was regional marketing manager of Hertz’s Corporation’s Southeast U.S. region, where she implemented new product offers and developed new business relationships with hotels, airlines and convention bureaus.

Bilby is based at the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts sales and marketing offices in Celebration, Florida.

I immediately thought of you when I got the email on this. Is there dancing in the streets?

 

[dis-happy]

Sounds like her expertise is marketing. Lovely.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Yep just got the email as well

 

[Deb & Bill]

I immediately thought of you when I got the email on this. Is there dancing in the streets?

We'll see.

 

[nu2dvc]

 

[DaveH]

I wonder if we will get more sales pitches now? I am at wait and see mode. Hopefully some good changes take place. No all changes are bad even under Jim Lewis.

 

[Sammie]

Well I for one am are pleased they emailed us the news. That is an improvement.

Two, I think a woman is a good change.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, so off to work she goes . . . .

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

It didn't take them long to announce the replacement for Jim Lewis. Any thoughts?

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

I just received this e-mail from DVC:

Global Sales Leader Claire Bilby Named to Top Disney Vacation Club Role

Disney Vacation Club is pleased to welcome seasoned Disney leader Claire Bilby as its new Senior Vice President, with responsibility for all aspects of the business.

Claire succeeds Jim Lewis, who left the company after serving as its president since 2006.

Claire has a distinguished history with Disney, starting in marketing at Walt Disney World Resort in 1988 and taking increasing levels of executive responsibility with the company in Florida, California and around the globe.

She recently served as Senior Vice President of Distribution Marketing and Asia Pacific Sales for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Among her responsibilities were leading all sales channel marketing for Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Travel Company, Adventures by Disney and Disney Institute. She also served as the top sales leader for Disney Destinations' Asia Pacific Region, with responsibilities for Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney's regional sales office in Tokyo and sales offices in Australia and China. Most recently, Claire led the sales organization at Disneyland Resort Paris on a temporary assignment.

"Claire brings to Disney Vacation Club an impressive track record in global sales, as well as an inspirational leadership style and innovative thinking," said Karl L. Holz, President of New Vacation Operations and Disney Cruise Line, and whose responsibilities include Disney Vacation Club.

Claire's many accomplishments include helping to launch several Disney theme parks and serving as a key leader in the milestone 50th anniversary celebration for Disneyland Resort.

 

[Mouse511]

First positive step - quick and effective communication....lets see how it goes from here....

 

[Cap]

So she is going to be a "Senior Vice President", while Lewis was a "President". Is this room to grow, the prior management reorganization, or just some title and salary downsizing?

 

[Steve@BWV]

Sounds like her expertise is marketing. Lovely.

That was my first thought as well. But at least she will understand word of mouth is the best advertising. Keeping the customers happy will drive sales better than any marketing scheme will.

 

[Ryansdad0727]

If she is a good leader and manager she will get everyone on the same page.. Letting everyone know who is in charge is, as Mouse511 said, a very positive step. Hopefully she will be as passionate about customer service as she has been about the marketing aspect.

 

[Mister Incredible]

Actually her background looked more sales than marketing, just wondering about her Customer Service background.

 

[ericamcl]

Well I for one am are pleased they emailed us the news. That is an improvement.

Two, I think a woman is a good change.

I was telling my DH about this earlier this evening and told him I though that putting a woman in charge might not be such a bad thing....he just rolled his eyes at me

ETA: I just checked and I haven't received any email from DVC as of yet....I'm just going by what my fellow DVCers have been posting on the boards

 

[jodifla]

getting an email about what's going on at DVC is pretty darned shocking! I'll hold a good thought that she's better than he was.