Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s Approach To 2022 And Beyond Includes Three Pillars That Will Guide The Company

The Walt Disney Company DIS has begun to rebound after the devastating closure of its theme parks around the world, movie studios, and pause on most projects due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In a memo recently released to company employees, Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, outlined three strategic pillars that will guide the company in 2022 and beyond.

“I believe our mission for this year is clear: set the stage for our second century, and ensure Disney’s next 100 years are as successful as our first,” Chapek wrote in the memo. Disney is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023.

The first pillar Chapek announced is “Storytelling Excellence,” which Chapek called the “Disney Magic.” Disney is known around the world for it’s storytelling, whether that be in the theme parks, through movies, or any other form of media. This is the pillar that most Disney fans have come to know and respect about The Walt Disney Company, and what keeps them coming back for more.

With the Storytelling Excellence pillar Chapek is introducing monthly meetings with senior creative leaders across the company to see how Disney stories can be integrated into new forms and to talk about new opportunities that the company may come across in the future.

The second pillar is “Innovation,” which Chapek says will use the companies “franchise ecosystem” to its advantage. With this pillar Chapek is essentially asking everyone to use the latest technology and world building ideas to create and execute new ideas.

The third pillar is what Chapek calls a “relentless focus on our audience,” where consumers will be the company’s “North Star.” Part of this strategy focuses on Disney’s theatrical and streaming strategy, and the other part of it focuses on Disney’s travel arm with theme parks and cruise ships. In the memo Chapek says, “We must evolve with our audience, not work against them. And so we will put them at the center of every decision we make.”

While it’s yet to be seen if these pillars will truly change the game for Disney, the plan laid out by Chapek and his team of executives sounds promising as Disney continues to push through the pandemic challenges and look ahead to the future.