Walt Disney World Resort replaces George Kalogridis with new president Josh D’Amaro

“My ties to the cast of the Walt Disney World Resort and to the Central Florida community run deep, and I look forward to rejoining the team,” he said.

D’Amaro also previously worked as senior vice president at Walt Disney World where he oversaw marketing strategy, sales and business development. His prior roles include senior vice president resorts and transportation and vice president of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

He replaces Kalogridis, 65, who has led Walt Disney World since 2013 and will become president of segment development and enrichment.

Kalogridis, a cast member at Walt Disney World’s 1971 opening day, will be responsible for developing strategic and operational business initiatives as well as best practices across sites and lines of business, the news release said.

Under Kalogridis, Disney World expanded Hollywood Studios to include Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and added Pandora – the World of Avatar to Animal Kingdom.

He was chief as the transition from Downtown Disney into Disney Springs was complete, and resort hotel expansions were completed at Coronado Springs.

Disney’s Rivera Resort, part of the Disney Vacation Club, is scheduled to open in December, and the Disney Skyliner, a gondola-based transportation system, debuts to the public next week.

A Florida native, he has held executive positions at Epcot, Disneyland, Orlando’s Disney Reservation Center and Disneyland Paris prior to landing the top spot at Walt Disney World in January of 2013.