Warren Aboard for Full Ride at Disney World - Linda Warren named executive vice president of marketing and brand management, Walt Disney World Resort - Brief Article

Brandweek, Jan 15, 2001 by Chuck Stogel

Talk about a dedicated long-time employee. Linda Warren brings a veritable lifetime of company background into her new position as evp of marketing and brand management for the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Taking it from the start, Warren joined Disney World in 1973 while in high school, then continued during college to work holidays and summers at the vacation destination. Since then, Warren's career positions at Disney include exec assistant to company chairman/CEO Michael Eisner; corporate vp-synergy/special projects; svp-Disney World sales; operations director at Epcot, which made her the first woman to run a Disney theme park; and, most recently, svp-marketing.

Located 20 miles southwest of Orlando, the 47 square-mile Disney World Resort includes four major theme parks, three water adventure parks, 27 resort hotels, 99 holes of golf, two full-service spas, plus the Disney Institute, Wedding Favilion, Wide World of Sports and Downtown Disney." We cater to a wide variety of audiences," said Warren. "But, no matter who you are--families, grandparents, empty nesters, golfers--we will do our best to provide you with beautiful memories."

Warren will oversee a staff that handles marketing, promotions, direct, Internet, media and public relations, broadcast alliances and strategic planning, with field offices in Chicago, Miami, New York, Dallas and 10 foreign countries." Going forward, our goals include efforts to boost relationship management and marketing of all varieties, including direct and the Internet," said Warren." One point to get across to the consumer: families on vacation at Disney World can both do things together and then, if they wish, do plenty of other things separately.