T

The Walt Disney Company

Makes entertainment and runs parks and cruises

Vice President New Builds & Dry Docks

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/22/2026
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's
London, UK
HybridLondon Hammersmith office 4 days per week; work from home either Monday or Friday. Frequent business travel required.
Project & Program ManagementProgram Management

About the job

Requirements
  • Extensive senior leadership experience directly leading complex operations with strong knowledge of the Guest and Crew experience, as well as significant experience in senior management roles.
  • Prior cruise line experience related to new builds and technical projects, with significant exposure to ship operations and shipyard construction environments.
  • Significant experience managing complex, multi-site projects in fast-paced environments, reliant on successful collaboration and integration of diverse stakeholders.
  • Detailed understanding of technical and regulatory requirements for ship construction projects, including deep knowledge of SOLAS, International Maritime Organization classification rules and regulations, and other marine standards.
  • Strong understanding of shipbuilding design processes and construction, including specification development, supplier selection, budget control, and commissioning.
  • Ability to articulate the needs of the operation and represent the Guest and Crew experience to inform and influence key decisions at Vice President and senior executive levels.
  • Proven record of savvy business judgment, exceptional financial skills, and deep business acumen, including experience with operating and capital budgets for major marine and technical initiatives.
  • Significant experience in managing business development or engineering development activities, identifying business opportunities, developing strategic plans, and executing successful outcomes.
  • Demonstrated exceptional strategic thinking, conceptual and creative problem solving, and the ability to envision future fleet and destination possibilities.
  • Ability to articulate ideas persuasively, settle differences, and win concessions without damaging relationships.
  • Demonstrated strong leadership skills with the ability to define a clear vision, motivate others, inspire enthusiasm and teamwork, and uphold a commitment to excellence.
  • Ability to travel internationally for significant periods of time and work effectively in shipyard construction site conditions.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Marine Operations, Engineering, Business Management, Hospitality, or a related field.
Responsibilities
  • Drive the overall strategy and execution of new build and dry dock projects that support the growth and long-term competitiveness of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
  • Represent Disney Cruise Line for all new build and dry dock initiatives, ensuring business needs and financial objectives are aligned with the project’s strategic direction, and ensuring operations have insight, input, and decision-making abilities during all project phases.
  • Serve as the executive leader and key point of contact for Walt Disney Imagineering project teams and shipyard leadership, providing consistency, accountability, and clear milestone governance across the project lifecycle.
  • Lead a cross-functional team of line-of-business and operations experts, including hotel operations, entertainment, marine and technical operations, and project integration, to deliver fleet development projects in partnership with Human Resources, commercial, Public Relations/Public Affairs, and technology.
  • Act as key decision maker for owner-furnished budgets and operational readiness of new ships, ensuring projects remain within established financial parameters and deviations are appropriately communicated and approved.
  • Manage assigned new build and dry dock projects throughout their life cycle, defining milestones, critical paths, and dependency plans to effectively manage schedules, resources, risks, and issues.
  • Maintain open, trusted lines of communication to create strong internal and external alignment, balance stakeholder needs and competing priorities, and resolve issues within agreed schedule and budget parameters.
  • Leverage industry trend data, environmental regulations, and other inputs to inform ship design and construction, ensuring all projects comply with relevant regulations in partnership with Safety, Security, and Environmental Compliance.
  • Maintain strong working relationships with shipyard leadership and partners, negotiate shipyard agreements, and influence supplier selection to optimize quality, schedule, and cost.
  • Prepare and secure approval for business cases and project execution plans, identifying opportunities for cost efficiencies and business process improvements across all projects.
  • Provide information and strategic recommendations to Disney Cruise Line leadership regarding future fleet expansion, existing ship enhancements, and private destination development.
  • Envision future fleet possibilities and create strategies that connect teams to the big picture and drive ownership of business outcomes.
  • Define clear strategies, expectations, and priorities for the team, ensuring their actions support the Company’s success.
  • Provide continuous coaching and feedback so individuals and teams can reach their highest potential.
  • Encourage openness, curiosity, and career growth, and promote an environment of respect, well-being, and flexibility.
  • Create an environment where Disney values are experienced daily, encourage creative problem solving, ensure every voice is heard, and sustain Disney culture across new build and dry dock initiatives.
Desired Qualifications
  • Master’s degree or equivalent in Marine Operations, Engineering, or Business Management.
  • Experience developing new cruise ship platform designs, including on-site commissioning or serving as a superintendent for newbuild or dry dock projects.
  • Strong experience in hotel operations for high-performing five-star luxury operators, ideally with cruise ship hotel operations and shipyard construction exposure.

About the company

T

The Walt Disney Company

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The Walt Disney Company makes films, television and streaming entertainment for audiences worldwide, and runs theme parks, resorts and cruises for vacationers. Its studios include Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, while ABC and ESPN cover news, entertainment and live sports. Disney+ and Hulu distribute shows and films directly to subscribers, and the company also sells content to cinemas and other broadcasters. It earns money from subscriptions, advertising, distribution fees, tickets and merchandise, including licensed toys, clothing and books. Founded in 1923 by Walt Disney and his brother Roy, the company is headquartered in Burbank, California.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Burbank, California

Founded

1923

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Experiences strengthen earnings: Disney reported 20% growth in segment operating income in August 2026.
  • Cruise capacity is expanding: Disney Destiny began its maiden voyage in November 2025, becoming the fleet's seventh ship.
  • Hourly employees receive education support: Disney Aspire gives eligible full-time and part-time staff access to over 100 programs.

What critics are saying

  • Role cuts threaten stability: Disney began notifying staff of about 1,000 planned eliminations in April 2026.
  • Sports lock in costs: Disney's September 2025 accounts recorded $9.9 billion of sports programming commitments for fiscal 2026.
  • International monetization needs work: Disney's CEO acknowledged under-monetized markets outside the U.S. in August 2026.

What makes The Walt Disney Company unique

  • Franchises earn beyond cinemas: Toy Story appears in four Disney lands, 19 attractions and two hotels.
  • Sports broaden its reach: Disney's ESPN runs seven U.S. television networks alongside its direct subscription app.
  • Robotics is an internal craft: Disney Imagineering develops A-1000 character figures with design and programming teams.

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Benefits

  • Paid Vacation
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Parental Leave
  • Performance Bonus

Company News

Music Business Worldwide
Oct 20th, 2026
Jim Freeman, ex-Amazon Prime Video VP, joins Ticketmaster as CTO to lead 'AI-first' push.

Jim Freeman, ex-Amazon Prime Video VP, joins Ticketmaster as CTO to lead 'AI-first' push. October 20, 2026 Ticketmaster has appointed former Amazon executive Jim Freeman as its Chief Technology Officer. The Live Nation-owned company has also hired Rachel Smith from Block as its first SVP of Data Science and Machine Learning, and ex-Disney executive Chuck Mortimore as SVP of Product. Ticketmaster announced the appointments on Monday (October 19), alongside the addition of the team behind AI startup Ragie. "Reliable, secure and personalized experiences depend on how effectively we use technology and data," said Saumil Mehta, Global President of Ticketmaster. "Jim, Rachel, Chuck and the Ragie.ai team will help us move faster, build better tools and deliver better outcomes for fans, artists, venues and clients." As CTO, Freeman will be responsible for the technology behind Ticketmaster's products for fans and clients, including what the company calls "a new generation of agentic, AI-powered tools." "Jim, Rachel, Chuck and the Ragie.ai team will help us move faster, build better tools and deliver better outcomes for fans, artists, venues and clients." Saumil Mehta, Ticketmaster Freeman will also oversee Ticketmaster's global engineering organization and platform modernization, continue work on its defenses against bots and "bad actors," and lead a push to make "every function AI-first" across the company. Ticketmaster says Freeman has spent more than 30 years running engineering teams at consumer technology businesses. As a VP at Amazon, he helped build and launch Prime Video, then scaled the service to more than 30 million monthly active users worldwide. He also launched Prime Video Direct and Amazon Channels, and expanded the service's device partnerships and distribution. Freeman later served as CTO of European fashion marketplace Zalando, which now connects more than 62 million active customers with 7,000 brands across 29 markets. Most recently, he was a Senior Advisor at Permira. Freeman fills a position that had been vacant since February, according to Variety. Ticketmaster's previous CTO, London-based Carlos Alvarez-Coch, left shortly before the US antitrust trial against Live Nation began on March 2. Smith joins Ticketmaster from Block, where she helped scale the data science teams behind Square, Cash App, and TIDAL. She was responsible for more than 120 data scientists across those businesses. At Ticketmaster, Smith will build what the company calls a "center of excellence for data science," extending its existing analytics work and making data more central to product development and business decisions. Ticketmaster says the move will create its first dedicated data science and machine learning organization, with a focus on fraud detection, bot mitigation, and the fan experience. Mortimore, meanwhile, will lead Ticketmaster's product strategy for identity, access, and trust. His remit covers how fans access and manage their accounts and tickets, as well as protections against "bad actors and unauthorized access," according to Ticketmaster. Mortimore has held product leadership roles at Disney, Stripe, Visa, and Salesforce over more than 20 years, following earlier engineering roles at Netscape and Sun Microsystems. At Disney, his most recent employer, he consolidated identity across the company's global businesses, including its theme parks, Disney+, and Hulu. Ticketmaster said the Ragie team, whose work focuses on AI infrastructure and retrieval technology, will help staff across the business build AI tools and put them to use. Ragie announced on July 27 that it was joining Ticketmaster, a deal Variety reported as an acquisition. Ragie's website still describes the company as a "fully managed RAG-as-a-Service platform," and now carries a banner announcing that "Ragie joins Ticketmaster." RAG, or retrieval-augmented generation, is a technique that lets AI models draw on a company's own documents and data when generating answers. The appointments come almost a year after Mehta joined Ticketmaster as Global President, with a stated aim to "accelerate an AI transformation" at the company. Mehta previously spent more than nine years at Square, where he was most recently Chief Product Officer and Head of Business Org. In May, Ticketmaster cut around 350 jobs, or 8% of its global workforce, primarily in engineering, product, and design, according to Pollstar. "The purpose of [these cuts] is stronger prioritization, especially in engineering product and design," Mehta told Pollstar at the time. "That comes with flattening layers, consolidating ownership, changing how teams are structured and ensuring that we put more energy behind specific initiatives." Ticketmaster's controls on bots and ticket brokers are also the subject of a lawsuit brought against Live Nation and Ticketmaster by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and seven states in September 2025. The complaint alleges that Ticketmaster knowingly allowed brokers to use hundreds or thousands of accounts to exceed artists' ticket limits, and that those tickets were then resold on Ticketmaster's own resale marketplace. In a court filing on October 13, Live Nation and Ticketmaster denied the FTC's claims, calling the lawsuit "misguided." "In 2025, Ticketmaster detected and blocked nearly 260 million attempts daily by bots to access its services, and currently blocks tens of thousands of suspected inauthentic account-creation attempts each day," the filing states. Separately, a federal jury in Manhattan found in April that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had illegally monopolized primary ticketing at major US concert venues, along with the market for large amphitheaters. Live Nation and Ticketmaster have asked the court to throw out the verdict or order a new trial. The coalition of 33 states and the District of Columbia that pressed the case to a verdict, after the DOJ settled its claims a week into the trial, is seeking the divestiture of Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster's revenues rose 15% year-over-year to USD $852 million in Q2 2026, with adjusted operating income up 14% to USD $331 million. The company says it processes more than 600 million tickets annually across more than 35 countries.Music Business Worldwide

Yahoo
Oct 20th, 2026
Disney names Carol Choi Asia Pacific president as Luke Kang retires.

Disney names Carol Choi Asia Pacific president as Luke Kang retires. Naman Ramachandran Tue, October 20, 2026 at 3:33 AM PDT Carol Choi will become president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific on Dec. 1, replacing Luke Kang, who is stepping down after 16 years at the Mouse House. Choi is currently executive VP of The Walt Disney Company APAC. In the top job, she will run Disney Entertainment's operations in the region, from studios and Disney+ to locally produced originals, content sales, media networks and consumer products. Her territory will stretch from Greater China, Japan and South Korea through Southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand. "Luke Kang has been an exceptional leader and a driving force behind Disney's growth and transformation across Asia Pacific," said Alan Bergman, chair of Disney Entertainment, Studios, and Jimmy Pitaro, chair of ESPN. "Carol Choi is a proven Disney leader with broad operating experience, strong creative instincts, and a deep understanding of the region, and she is the perfect person to lead the organization into its next chapter." Choi has spent 20 years with the company. In her current post, she has overseen the region's studio operations, original content strategy and integrated marketing. Earlier, she ran Disney's Japan and Korea businesses as managing director and held senior posts in Greater China. Along the way, she played a part in bringing Disney+ to the region and growing the service, expanded the studio business and forged lasting partnerships with leading creators and talent across Asia Pacific. "I am honored to take on this role and grateful to Luke for the strong foundation he has built," said Choi. "Asia Pacific is home to some of the world's most passionate fans and dynamic creative communities. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to bring exceptional stories and experiences to audiences, grow our businesses, and deepen Disney's connection with fans across the region." Kang came to Disney in 2011 to head its Korea operation as managing director, later taking charge of the company's operations in Greater China and North Asia. There, he grew Disney's business through localization, digital initiatives and closer ties with consumers. As APAC president, he oversaw growth across the region's markets and brands, steered the rollout of Disney+ and other new ventures, and invested in creative projects, including original content. "It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead Disney in Asia Pacific through a period of significant growth and transformation," said Kang. "Carol is an exceptional leader whose deep knowledge of our businesses, creative ambition, and instinct for consumers make her uniquely positioned to build on this momentum and lead APAC into its next phase of growth." Best of Variety

Nottingham Post
Oct 20th, 2026
Oodie £1 sale that sold out in seconds is back - here's how to not miss out.

Oodie £1 sale that sold out in seconds is back - here's how to not miss out. Shoppers will have to be quick to take advantage of the sell-out sale - we have all the details people need to know. What's On Lucy Addicott 06:00, 20 Oct 2026 This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Oodie's coveted £1 sale has made its return and this year, it's arguably back bigger and better than ever before. Last year, Oodie treated fans to £1 Oodie Originals and while the popular wearable blanket hoodies are still up for grabs for 2026's event, there are two other items involved - joining the Black Oodie Original are the Black Sherpa Blanket and Black Sherpa Dressing Gown. According to Oodie, stock sold out in seconds last year so those that don't want to miss out should sign up here to register. Oodie states this could be the cheapest way to buy a cosy Oodie this year and with Ofgem's energy price cap increase this month, they could serve as a cost-effective way to keep toasty-warm and comfy this winter. The offer goes live on the Oodie website at 7pm on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 and closes when all 1,000 stock of each product runs out. Saving shoppers up to £74, the Oodie Black Original will be down from the usual £65, Black Sherpa Blanket down from £29 and the Black Sherpa Dressing Gown down from £75. To be eligible to shop the £1 sale, shoppers have to sign up ahead of time before launch night here. Whether lazing around, working from home, or nipping outside to put the bins out, the Original Oodie wearable blanket gives a hands-free way to feel wrapped up like a big warm hug. Boasting buttery-soft sherpa fleece lining and a ToastyTek outer fabric, the plush hoodie comes in sizes S/M or one size fits most, typically giving an oversized fit. The Black Sherpa Dressing Gown combines this sherpa fleece with a robe-style cut, and for those that want a standard blanket over a wearable style - the Black Sherpa Blanket could be just the ticket. The Oodie £1 sale event only covers the black colour, but there are other blanket hoodies elsewhere with designs should that be favourable. At Dunelm, this Otto the Otter Oversized Hoodie is £18 with an adorable otter print. There's also Cooper the Capybara and Hazel the Highland Cow. Over at Skinnydip, the brand has teamed up with Disney to present the Winnie the Pooh Collection. Customers can choose from the Winnie the Pooh Strawberry Blanket Hoodie or the 3D Ears Blanket Hoodie, each retailing for £38. Oodie's wearable blanket hoodies have built up a loyal following, with consumers leaving rave reviews under the Black Oodie Original. One person said: "Silky smooth outer, soft floofy Sherpa inner and light as heck. I don't need my heater on at all with this Oodie." Someone else picked up both the hoodie and the blanket, writing: "This is my second Oodie and I love it just as much as the first! The quality is amazing, super warm and cosy. "I also got a blanket this time, and it's just as soft and comfortable. The designs are adorable, and the price is really reasonable for what you get. I'd definitely recommend The Oodie to anyone looking to stay warm and comfy during the colder months." The wearable blanket is machine washable, however, another person noted 'it took ages to dry'. This is worth considering when washing as this may cause frustration. Article continues below A further buyer shared: "An essential when your heating is not working. This garment is so warm and cosy - you won't need to turn the heating on. Well made/great quality. I love it." And a final customer explained: "This was bought for my husband who absolutely loves it. Great quality keeps him lovely and warm on the cold mornings. They are great for snuggling up in the evenings on the sofa."

Mediaweek
Oct 20th, 2026
Disney names Carol Choi Asia Pacific president as Luke Kang retires after 16 years.

Disney names Carol Choi Asia Pacific president as Luke Kang retires after 16 years. Carol Choi will take over as president of The Walt Disney Company's Asia Pacific operations, following Luke Kang's decision to retire after 16 years. Image: Variety Carol Choi will take over as president of The Walt Disney Company's Asia Pacific operations, following Luke Kang's decision to retire after 16 years with the entertainment giant. Disney confirmed the leadership transition on Tuesday, with Choi, currently executive vice president of Disney APAC, set to assume the role on December 1st. In her new position, Choi will oversee Disney Entertainment's operations across Greater China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Her responsibilities will include the company's film studios, Disney+, local original productions, consumer products, media networks and content sales. A 20-year veteran of Disney, Choi has most recently overseen the company's regional studios business, original content strategy and integrated marketing. She previously served as managing director of Disney in Japan and Korea, alongside senior leadership positions in Greater China. Her tenure has included supporting the regional expansion of Disney+, growing the company's theatrical business and developing partnerships with creative talent and production companies across Asia Pacific. "Carol Choi is a proven Disney leader with broad operating experience, strong creative instincts, and a deep understanding of the region, and she is the perfect person to lead the organisation into its next chapter," said Disney Entertainment Studios chairman Alan Bergman and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro in a joint statement. Choi said she was looking forward to building on the company's existing operations and strengthening its relationships with audiences across the region. The leading media trade publication in Australia. "I am honoured to take on this role and grateful to Luke for the strong foundation he has built," she said. "Asia Pacific is home to some of the world's most passionate fans and dynamic creative communities. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to bring exceptional stories and experiences to audiences, grow our businesses, and deepen Disney's connection with fans across the region." Kang's departure brings an end to a 16-year career with Disney, which began in 2011 when he joined as managing director of Korea. He later took responsibility for the Greater China and North Asia businesses before becoming president of the wider APAC region. Under his leadership, Disney expanded its streaming presence, invested in locally produced programming and strengthened its consumer-facing businesses across key Asian markets. "It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead Disney in Asia Pacific through a period of significant growth and transformation," Kang said. "Together, we have strengthened our businesses, expanded the reach of Disney's stories and brands, and built new ways to serve our fans across one of the world's most dynamic regions. Carol is an exceptional leader whose deep knowledge of our businesses, creative ambition, and instinct for consumers make her uniquely positioned to build on this momentum and lead APAC into its next phase of growth." The leadership change comes as Disney looks to increase its investment in locally produced content across Asia Pacific, including Australia. Earlier this month, Variety Australia revealed that Disney+ had appointed former Amazon MGM Studios executive Sarah Christie as its new executive director of local content for Australia and New Zealand. Christie, who will begin in November, will oversee local commissioning, acquisitions and production. The appointment followed comments from Disney Entertainment's executive vice president of international original television, Jon Wax, who outlined plans to increase local original spending in Australia as Disney+ works towards tripling its local-language output globally. The regional reshuffle also comes amid broader changes at Disney, which announced another round of layoffs in September, affecting several hundred employees primarily across its human resources and technology divisions. The cuts formed part of ongoing cost-reduction measures under CEO Josh D'Amaro. This story was first published on Variety.

TrendPulse
Oct 20th, 2026
Disney names carol Choi Asia-Pacific president as Kang retires.

Disney names carol Choi Asia-Pacific president as Kang retires. entertainment Key takeaways. * Choi succeeds outgoing regional chief **Luke Kang**, who is retiring after a 16-year tenure with the entertainment giant. * The leadership transition arrives as Disney accelerates its international streaming investments and expands its slate of local Asian original content. TrendPulse analysis. Industry context. Choi's promotion underscores a broader industry pivot toward localized streaming strategies as domestic subscriber growth matures in North America. For major Hollywood studios, the Asia-Pacific region has transformed from a traditional box-office and licensing market into a vital battleground for direct-to-consumer subscriber acquisition. Disney's strategic emphasis on South Korea and Greater China mirrors rival streaming services that rely on high-quality regional language productions to drive engagement and retention. Historically, Western media conglomerates often relied on exporting Hollywood-centric IP into international territories. However, the streaming era has inverted this playbook. Hit Korean original series on Disney+ - such as *A Shop for Killers* - demonstrate that locally relevant, premium storytelling can travel globally. Choi's background in managing both Greater China and North Asian markets positions her well to navigate the distinct regulatory environments, cultural nuances, and production pipelines necessary to scale this content engine. Why this matters. For entertainment executives and media investors, this leadership transition signals that Disney is doubling down on its localized production strategy in Asia. With plans to significantly ramp up international original programming over the coming years, the mandate under Choi will likely focus on deepening creative partnerships with regional talent hubs. Investors should watch how Disney balances its marquee American franchises with rising investments in Asian content production costs. Furthermore, the competitive landscape in APAC remains fierce, featuring entrenched local platforms, telecommunications bundle offerings, and aggressive expansion from rival global streamers like **Netflix** and **Amazon Prime Video**. Choi will need to leverage her deep familiarity with regional consumer products and digital ecosystems to maximize monetization beyond streaming subscriptions. Industry stakeholders should view this appointment as an indicator that operational execution and creative localization will take precedence over pure subscriber acquisition at all costs. The bottom line. Carol Choi's promotion to Asia-Pacific president highlights Disney's strategic shift toward localized streaming growth and premium original content production in key international markets. Read the full article. This analysis is based on reporting from The Hollywood Reporter AI-powered news analysis · October 20, 2026 Editorially Reviewed