Claire Bilby is leaving DVC?

[maburke]

I just got the email from Claire Bilby saying that she is leaving DVC for Disneyland Paris! What will this mean for us? Anybody know anything about this Ken Potrock person she says will succeed her?

 

[MrShiny]

In case folks didn't get it, here is the email:

Dear Members,

I want to share an important Disney Vacation Club organizational announcement with you, our Member families.

As Disney continues to identify ways to deliver the best-possible vacation experiences, the company is providing new growth opportunities for members of the leadership team. In this case, Disney is giving me the opportunity to lead the Sales and Marketing organization at Disneyland Paris, leveraging my depth of international sales experience.

I am thrilled about this new opportunity, which begins February 1, and also deeply proud of the great work our team has done over the past couple of years at Disney Vacation Club. The team has accomplished so much and truly elevated the benefits, perks and experiences we provide to our Members.

You will be pleased to learn that longtime Disney leader Ken Potrock is succeeding me at Disney Vacation Club as Senior Vice President and General Manager. I can tell you that you're in great hands with Ken. He is a wonderful leader, full of creativity and passion for the Disney brand, and extremely talented. Most recently, Ken has served as the Senior Vice President of Disney Sports Enterprises and Downtown Disney in Florida. I have known him for a long time and couldn't be more delighted with his passion for the Disney brand, for innovation, and for always putting our Guests and Members first. In his new role, Ken will also have responsibility for Adventures by Disney, our family guided-tour business.

As I say "au revoir" for now, please know how much I have enjoyed my time with Disney Vacation Club and the privilege of getting to know so many of our Members. I look forward to Ken and the rest of the organization continuing to enhance the Member experience in creative and magical ways!

At Disney Vacation Club, it's all about you - the Member - and that commitment will never change. Thank you for vacationing with Disney year in and year out. We look forward to delighting and surprising you each time we welcome you home.

Sincerely,

Claire Bilby

 

[Lorelei528]

I just got the e-mail as well and came right here to see if anybody knows anything!

 

[maburke]

"couple of years"? Has it really been that long?

 

[MrShiny]

Some details on the new guy:

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/print-edition/2011/10/28/ken-potrock-disney.html

 

[MrShiny]

"couple of years"? Has it really been that long?

More or less - she started at DVC August 16, 2011

 

[BeccaG]

I just got the e-mail as well and came right here to see if anybody knows anything!

Yup me too! ....and checking out all the hub bub about FP+......

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

Wow. Lots of changes happening on Feb 1st. Meg Crofton is leaving for Paris as well. Bye ladies!!

 

[mort1331]

Might be a whole organizational change, and Meg might have like working with Claire over the last couple of years. As you can see below this all takes place feb 1/2013

Walt Disney Co. announced Jan. 9 that Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton will leave her role in Orlando and fully transition to the position of president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations for the U.S. and France.

According to a Disney release: "Effective Feb. 1, Meg Crofton will fully assume her global role as president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France – a position she has held since July 2011 – while concurrently serving as president of Walt Disney World. With Meg’s transition complete, George A. Kalogridis is named president of the Walt Disney World Resort, and Michael Colglazier is named president of the Disneyland Resort. Both Kalogridis and Colglazier’s roles are also effective Feb. 1."

Crofton’s new duties include providing strategic oversight of the broader initiatives that impact Disney destinations in the U.S. and France.

The shift opened the door for Kalogridis, who most recently served as president of Disneyland Resort.

In addition, Disney said “Colglazier has served as head of Disney’s Animal Kingdom where he has been instrumental in the planning and development of an Avatar-themed land. He brings more than two decades of wide-ranging experience to his new role at the Disneyland Resort

 

[drusba]

I thought Bilby was the sales senior VP in Paris when she became DVC head, so this may not be a move up. Possibly the higher ups decided she was being too nice to the members.

 

[dcibrando]

I hate to say this... but if Ken runs DVC like Downtown Disney, we're in trouble

 

[Lorelei528]

ummmm...I already don't like this guy.....

 

[erionm]

Wow. Lots of changes happening on Feb 1st. Meg Crofton is leaving for Paris as well. Bye ladies!!

Meg is headed to Burbank, not Paris.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

ummmm...I already don't like this guy.....

Why?

If we got a guy from another timeshare company, then I'd b worried. A Disney exec trained in satisfying customers is much better than a TS exec trained in....well...not sure if there's any way to non-profanely describe what timeshare execs are trained in...

 

[tjkraz]

I hate to say this... but if Ken runs DVC like Downtown Disney, we're in trouble

How long has he been "running" Downtown Disney?

Ken Potrock was Senior VP/Marketing for Disney Vacation Club until 2008 when he moved to the ESPN/Disney Sports position. Downtown Disney was seemingly added to his responsibilities at some later date...and it's been a mess for nearly a decade now.

Might be a little premature to crucify him for everything that's gone down at DTD.

 

[DebbieB]

More or less - she started at DVC August 16, 2011

That sounds right because we were at D23 right after Jim Lewis got fired. It was like the elephant in the room, no mention of DVC at the Parks/Resorts presentation (each department head did a presentation).

 

[heartsy77]

I hate to say this... but if Ken runs DVC like Downtown Disney, we're in trouble

Exactly!

 

[DonnaL]

Well, that little bio of Ken Potrock shows he's not afraid to go out on a limb a bit....I like the memo to the president as to what should be done with the sports division....let's hope he's so outspoken in re to DVC and the things that need to be fixed or changed. Don't know that much about ESPN Sports venue, but, it certainly does seem the tempo has picked up over there in the last few years. He just might be what DVC needs......

 

[a742246]

I think he will do good. From my experience people who had open heart surgery
at an early age tend to be more "real" after the surgery.

 

[heynowirv]

And with a new lease on life, he might be grateful to be alive and apreciative of all of us