Confirmed: DVC is getting a new leader

[tjkraz]

But I am surprised no one has speculated what this move means for Dvc properties in Europe.

Doubt there is any relationship between this move and a potential international DVC.

Claire Bilby's background is in marketing. She was overseeing marketing for Disneyland Paris when Disney had to scramble to replace Jim Lewis. The appearance is that her new position is a return to her roots--whether voluntary or not remains a mystery.

Even her boss will change. Karl Holz heads up DVC, DCL and Adventures by Disney. Disneyland Paris is under Meg Crofton. Bilby is out of DVC entirely.

 

[scubadiver]

Today is the first time I've gotten any email like this for well over 2 years. Last week when I was speaking with MS they asked if I wanted to have an email on file. My screen showed my email and I've always gotten confirmations but she insisted there wasn't one and typed it in. And now I got a notification on a change.

I have never recieved an email about anything other than my conformations. I have checked my profile, it is there. Everytime I make a reservation, they recite my email to me, so I know it is there.

I do have one question, how do people meet these "suits". I have been in DVC since 2008 and go twice a year. I have never met any 'suit'. But at the same time, it is not that important to me. But I was just wondering.

A reference was made about a letter when you check out, what letter. I just get the "eviction notice" each time.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I have never recieved an email about anything other than my conformations. I have checked my profile, it is there. Everytime I make a reservation, they recite my email to me, so I know it is there.

On your profile, under the email address, is a link that takes you to contact preferences. If you don't have the blocks checked that you give Disney permission to send you communications, you won't get these types of emails. "Permission to contact" needs to be set to "yes" next to your email address, then you need to check the 3 boxes at the bottom. (Or at a minimum, the first one.)

 

[dianeschlicht]

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.

Exactly, and I for one never thought she would be in the position long term. I think her fingerprints are on the "new" DVC though, and that should be a good thing.

 

[fitnessmouse]

On your profile, under the email address, is a link that takes you to contact preferences. If you don't have the blocks checked that you give Disney permission to send you communications, you won't get these types of emails. "Permission to contact" needs to be set to "yes" next to your email address, then you need to check the 3 boxes at the bottom. (Or at a minimum, the first one.)

I have everything checked and set to yes and I still don't get those emails, Disney Files or other. Only thing I get sent to me are my annual dues statements

 

[TagsMissy]

I never got the letter -- I know I'm in Canada and all but you'd think all members, despite of where they live would get the notification email... odd. Any other Canadians get the letter outside of Alberta or Ontario?

 

[heynowirv]

I received my email. I had to go into my spam to find it yesterday. Don't assume it's not there.

 

[TagsMissy]

I received my email. I had to go into my spam to find it yesterday. Don't assume it's not there.

I didn't receive it; not an assumption. My spam folder is empty and it's not in my inbox or any other filtered folder nor tagged DVC.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

According to this from DisUnplugged, it looks like this was a promotion for Claire - pulling back on Meg, moving forward with a few other execs it would seem. Ken looks like a lateral.

"Rumors have been floating around for a while about a possible executive shuffle. Some names changed, but the end result is the same. Here’s a breakdown of the executive changes:

Meg Crofton currently holds the title of President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France as well as President of Walt Disney World. She will now drop her role as President of Walt Disney World.

Current Disneyland President George Kalogridis will come to Florida to take over as President of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Michael Colglazier, current Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom will move to President of the Disneyland Resort.

Tom Wolber, current Senior Vice President of Disney Cruise Line will move to Senior Vice President of Downtown Disney and Disney Sports.

Josh D’Amaro, current Vice President of Adventures by Disney will move to Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Claire Bilby, current Vice President of Disney Vacation Club, is moving to Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing Disneyland Paris and Europe.

Ken Potrock, current Senior Vice President of Downtown Disney and Disney Sports, will head Disney Vacation Club and Adventures By Disney.

As indicated in this news article, the change most people are talking about is the removal of Meg Crofton from President of Walt Disney World. With many parts of the resort suffering a decline in quality, she is largely disliked by the fan community. She doesn’t fare much better with cast members either. Cast member benefits have been cut back more and more each year under her leadership. That’s a story for another blog, but the point is that she’s not well liked.

By contrast, George Kalogridis has been President over Disneyland while Cars Land was being developed. Although some make the argument this was the result of being in the right place at the right time, he also lobbied for EPCOT to be the center of the Millennium celebration. Either way, there’s a large amount of hope out there that this will lead to a change in philosophies around the resort.

Another notable change comes at Downtown Disney as Tom Wolber, who oversaw the launching of two new ships at Disney Cruise Line, moves over to Downtown Disney and Disney Sports. Splitsville has been a great addition to Downtown Disney, but anyone can see more needs to be done. We can only hope that fresh blood will continue to bring in new venues to the area.
Of course it’s important to keep expectations in check. Executives are a lot like quarterbacks: all the glory and all the blame. That said, it’s hard to see how this can be anything but positive for Walt Disney World. Most would agree it can’t be worse, so the only question left is HOW positive it will be for the resort.

As for Meg’s future in the company, she is expected to hold her new role for a while before heading off to retirement, cementing her legacy into the dark lore of WDW history."

 

[keaster]

I never got the letter -- I know I'm in Canada and all but you'd think all members, despite of where they live would get the notification email... odd. Any other Canadians get the letter outside of Alberta or Ontario?

I'm in Ontario, bought direct and did not get the Claire Bilby email

I know they have my email as I get email confirmations for bookings and I've gone into the member site and made sure our email is there. Frustrating.

 

[Ksp]

Just saw the email in my inbox - it came yesterday. Not sure how I feel about the shuffle - I looked at Claire's tenure at DVC as a breath of fresh air. I will wait and see, I guess.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

On your profile, under the email address, is a link that takes you to contact preferences. If you don't have the blocks checked that you give Disney permission to send you communications, you won't get these types of emails. "Permission to contact" needs to be set to "yes" next to your email address, then you need to check the 3 boxes at the bottom. (Or at a minimum, the first one.)

Having that still does not guarantee you will get the emails. I had checked it and rechecked it a couple of times once I stopped getting the emails and still nothing until yesterday I suddenly got one again.

 

[Brian Noble]

I wrote this in another thread, but Disney tends to shuffle their upper-layer executives through various units within the company to broaden their experiences. So, lateral moves, and even some that look like demotions, do happen. For example, Staggs and Rasulo swapped positions not too long ago.

 

[wdrl]

I'm curious whether it is significant that Ken Potrock will have dual responsibilities as head of both DVC and Adventures by Disney in the new management structure. Both Bilby and Lewis had only DVC to manage, but Potrock will have to deal with two different organizations.

If I recall correctly, Disney recently filled a senior management position within DVC that was to deal with Member interaction and communication. Perhaps that new position is intended to free up some of Potrock's time so that he can spend more time on Adventures by Disney?

 

[Brian Noble]

Good question. AbD is relatively small, but it also has been viewed as something of a disappointment.

 

[tjkraz]

At the annual meeting, Claire Bilby made some noise about executives switching jobs at DVC. Didn't think much of it at the time but with the benefit of hindsight...

Specifically, Sonya Deese-Byrnes now has the title of General Manager of Disney Vacation Club. I believe that prior to this, she was the GM of both Old Key West and Saratoga Springs.

Although I don't know her personally, Sonya has earned a solid reputation for her work at Disney.

This is purely speculative but Sonya's promotion may have been part of setting the table for Bilby's reassignment. As wdrl said, Potrock will apparently be splitting duties between DVC and AbD. Deese-Byrnes may be viewed as a strong individual to oversee the day-to-day operations at DVC.

 

[disneynutz]

Having that still does not guarantee you will get the emails. I had checked it and rechecked it a couple of times once I stopped getting the emails and still nothing until yesterday I suddenly got one again.

Receipt of emails can also be affected by State Law or other laws governing your place of residence. The announce emailed about the management change is considered to be a promotional email. Other emails may be restricted because they are being sent by a real estate/timeshare developer. DVD has a whole compliance team of people telling them what they can and can't do when it comes to member communication and the governing laws.

Bill

 

[TagsMissy]

Receipt of emails can also be affected by State Law or other laws governing your place of residence. The announce emailed about the management change is considered to be a promotional email. Other emails may be restricted because they are being sent by a real estate/timeshare developer. DVD has a whole compliance team of people telling them what they can and can't do when it comes to member communication and the governing laws.

Bill

Yeah that is why I quantified Alberta/Ontario vs rest of the country but someone from Ontario didn't get it and that doesn't make sense in terms of 'promotion' but I'd not think it would be promotion to indicate you are leaving and another is taking your place.

 

[disneynutz]

According to this from DisUnplugged, it looks like this was a promotion for Claire - pulling back on Meg, moving forward with a few other execs it would seem. Ken looks like a lateral.

Bilby is going back to where she came from and is adding Europe to her title in addition to Paris.

Bill

 

[Sammie]

At the annual meeting, Claire Bilby made some noise about executives switching jobs at DVC. Didn't think much of it at the time but with the benefit of hindsight...

Specifically, Sonya Deese-Byrnes now has the title of General Manager of Disney Vacation Club. I believe that prior to this, she was the GM of both Old Key West and Saratoga Springs.

Although I don't know her personally, Sonya has earned a solid reputation for her work at Disney.

This is purely speculative but Sonya's promotion may have been part of setting the table for Bilby's reassignment. As wdrl said, Potrock will apparently be splitting duties between DVC and AbD. Deese-Byrnes may be viewed as a strong individual to oversee the day-to-day operations at DVC.

Sonya has had dual titles for some time, as GM of OKW and SSR and GM of DVC. In fact she is only upper management in resorts and DVC that has not been moved since she left Vero Beach as GM.