Confirmed: DVC is getting a new leader

[TagsMissy]

I liked Claire!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=47135775#post47135775

Current DVC chief Claire Bilby heading to Paris to head sales and marketing for Disneyland Paris and Europe

Disney Vacation Club time-share business also getting new chief: Ken Potrock, who had been in charge of sports enterprises

 

[sgtdisney]

Just got an email from Claire saying this is true, she is leaving for Disneyland Paris and Ken Potrock will succeed her at Disney Vacation Club as Senior Vice President and General Manager.

 

[Ln42]

I just got the email as well. I think Claire has the ball rolling in the right direction. Let's hope the new leader can continue to enhance membership.

 

[detroitdad]

Well she lasted all of 5 minutes...



Claire Bilby Message to Members

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

 

[cbnsoul]

Well she lasted all of 5 minutes...

No Kidding! Wow, that was fast. You would think there would be more of a long-term plan rather than change senior vice presidents after only a couple of years (if that).

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

I liked Claire!

Me, too!

Does anyone know anything about Ken? I sure hope that he can continue to bring good change.

 

[mjc2003]

I think she took over in August 2011, which makes her "last couple of years" comment a bit confusing. She effectively ran DVC for 16 months.

Good luck to her, she seemed DVC member-friendly, and I hope her successor will be the same.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I have know idea how long he'd been in his previous job, but does this mean that the guy who was responsible for closing the Adventures Club and Comedy Club will now be in charge of DVC?

 

[dcibrando]

sounds like it... as I said in another forum... if he runs DVC like Downtown Disney, we're in trouble.

 

[cbnsoul]

sounds like it... as I said in another forum... if he runs DVC like Downtown Disney, we're in trouble.

That was my first thought...

 

[hakepb]

No Kidding! Wow, that was fast. You would think there would be more of a long-term plan rather than change senior vice presidents after only a couple of years (if that).

I think that points to Jim Lewis. They needed to get rid of him more than they needed to establish a long term DVC head.

 

[cbnsoul]

I think that points to Jim Lewis. They needed to get rid of him more than they needed to establish a long term DVC head.

That's a good point. Claire may have been brought in to "smooth things over" from a corporate perspective with plans to then hand the reins over to someone else.

 

[cseca]

Well just when we start seeing some good things coming from her too...
Oh well I guess we wait and see what this Ken guy will do.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Looks like the shake-up was WAY bigger than just DVC.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I have know idea how long he'd been in his previous job, but does this mean that the guy who was responsible for closing the Adventures Club and Comedy Club will now be in charge of DVC?

 

[Greysword]

I want to say Thank You to Claire for helping me believe in the DVC magic, again. She did a great job for us, with some fantastic perks (meaning establishing some great relationships with the other Theme Park divisions) and turning around a souring reputation for DVC management. Good luck to you, Claire, in Paris!

 

[Song of the South]

As we were leaving AK today a CM looking at his phone says, "Oh great! They are playing move all the senior executives around again!" I didn't have context for the comment at the time but I do now...

Huh. Guess we will see.

SotS

 

[Doug7856]

sounds like it... as I said in another forum... if he runs DVC like Downtown Disney, we're in trouble.

I hope not!!!

 

[Sammie]

They seem to love to do this is in January. Wonder who else got moved.

 

[psac]

Like others have said, I don't like it. She was doing a good job and the lack of stability is not good.