Whatever Happened to Jim Lewis?

[disney junky]

I don't follow all the in's and out's of the organization. I had heard he was gone and it was tied to the Hawaii resorts, but what happened? Where is he now?

 

[drusba]

He and two others in management positions were canned in August 2011 ostensibly because of significant under-budgeting for operational costs and taxes at Aulani which resulted in DVD's redoing the budget and causing dues to increase significantly, but those who had already purchased on reliance of previous budget continue to pay lower dues, about 75% of what others pay, with DVD having to cover the difference for the life of the timeshare. DVD agreed to do that to avoid charges and penalties by the applicable governmental agencies. This year the grandfathered owners pay $4.48 a point as compared to $5.96 for others at Aulani and DVD covers the difference. I do not know where he is now.

 

[RobDoc]

... I do not know where he is now.

My understanding is that DVC has hired Lewis as a "consultant". Your maintenance fees at work!

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...111219_1_tom-staggs-aulani-disney-cruise-line

Sounds like a form of Golden Parachute!

 

[dianeschlicht]

My understanding is that DVC has hired Lewis as a "consultant". Your maintenance fees at work!

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...111219_1_tom-staggs-aulani-disney-cruise-line

Sounds like a form of Golden Parachute!

That is NOT good news.

 

[JimMIA]

My understanding is that DVC has hired Lewis as a "consultant". Your maintenance fees at work!

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...111219_1_tom-staggs-aulani-disney-cruise-line

Sounds like a form of Golden Parachute!

Hopefully his priceless expertise will come out of the DVC sales budget...not members' annual dues!

If true, that consultancy gig sounds like a lawsuit settlement to me.

 

[Snurk71]

I don't think it would be abnormal for an executive to either have in contract or negotiate a severance package that could be structured as a consulting agreement in which the severed doesn't do any actual consulting, in order to keep the severed employee's severance in check with their continuing actions (non-compete, non-recruiting, non-disparagement).

I've actually been involved in such setups with two different executives.

 

[vicki_c]

I don't think it would be abnormal for an executive to either have in contract or negotiate a severance package that could be structured as a consulting agreement in which the severed doesn't do any actual consulting, in order to keep the severed employee's severance in check with their continuing actions (non-compete, non-recruiting, non-disparagement).

I've actually been involved in such setups with two different executives.

I agree. It's actually pretty common and may even have been included Iinhis original employment agreement or negotiated to get him to leave on Disney's terms.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO Lewis was on the fast track, got caught up in his success and made some bad decisions that involved creative accounting, (he is a CPA). I expect that it was more than Aulani that got him fired, BLT dues were increased by over 8% after he left.

Here is some info that I found on the internet.

"Jim Lewis served as President for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) for eight years. As the leader of DVC, Lewis oversaw one of The Walt Disney Company’s most lucrative branches. DVC includes 11 resorts, thousands of employees and members, and almost $800 million in revenue.

Throughout Jim Lewis’ tenure, the division achieved record income and profit, which led to the development of a 102,000-square-foot headquarters. During his first five years at DVC, he established a “Disney’s Best Keep Secret” marketing campaign that doubled revenue. Even after the recent economic recession, Lewis’ ideas enabled DVC to improve its market share significantly. DVC’s Parks and Resorts department obtained a 40 percent return on investment for several of its projects.

Many of Jim Lewis’ suggestions led DVC to expand and gain recognition. The Walt Disney Company awarded the division $3.5 billion to build more resorts. In 2008, Jim Lewis set up Disney’s Doorway to Dreams, a retail store that opened its first two locations in Chicago and New York. One major project that he supported involved a 15,000-square-foot sales center in Japan that conducts deals averaging over $30,000. Additionally, he led the company’s expansion in Hawaii with Aulani, Disney’s first non-theme park resort."

Bill