Paul Pressler
Encyclopedia
Paul Pressler is an advisor of the New York- and London-based private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Formerly president and CEO of Gap, Inc. and Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
, Pressler is also a director of Avon Products Inc., Overture Acquisition Corporation, Advanced Sensor Technology, OpenTable
, and Web Personal Assistant.
A long-time supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
, Pressler served on the organization's Greater Los Angeles board of directors from 1994–2002 and on the National board of directors from 2002- 2009.
Pressler was the president and CEO of Gap, Inc. from September 2002 to 22 January 2007. He also served on the company's Board of Directors.
Before Gap, Pressler spent 15 years with The Walt Disney Company
, most recently as chairman of the Parks and Resorts division. Prior to that he was president of Disneyland, president of the Disney Store chain and senior vice president of Disney Licensing. Before joining Disney he was vice president of design and marketing for Kenner
-Parker Toys.
A New York native, Pressler received a bachelors degree in business economics from the State University of New York
in Oneonta, New York
.
at one point. In 1994, Pressler was appointed president of the company's Disneyland theme park. He led the team developing the property into a two-park, three-hotel resort .
theme park; a new hotel, Disney's Grand Californian; the remodeling of an existing hotel, Paradise Pier; a new retail, dining and entertainment complex called Downtown Disney
; and a new multi-story parking area. The new park and hotels opened in early 2001, and the entire complex was named the Disneyland Resort
.
In 1996, Pressler approved a $100 million change to one of Disneyland's attraction areas, called Tomorrowland. This change would include several new attractions and an updated 'Jules Verne' theme for the area.
During his tenure as president the theme parks saw record profits, and various changes were made to the theme park's merchandise and operations. California Adventure consistently underperformed corporate and public expectations, and in November, 2007, Disney announced an over $1 billion overhaul to enhance and expand the original park. Profits also came at the expense of maintenance as light bulbs, landscapes and fixtures went unchanged or ignored, But Pressler did push through a period of record profits for the Disney theme park division. However, after the events of September 11, 2001 (shortly after California Adventure opened), tourism to the resort had dropped.
, the Disneyland Resort
, the Walt Disney World Resort
and Disneyland Resort Paris
, as well as encourage negotiations with the government of Hong Kong
over the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
.
His time as head of the Parks and Resorts division is very controversial among fans of the company and its theme parks.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
, Pressler is also a director of Avon Products Inc., Overture Acquisition Corporation, Advanced Sensor Technology, OpenTable
OpenTable
OpenTable is an online real-time restaurant reservation service founded by Chuck Templeton in San Francisco, CA in 1998. Reservations are free to end users; the company charges restaurants monthly and per-reservation fees for their use of the system. In 1999, the website began operations...
, and Web Personal Assistant.
A long-time supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501 non-profit organization whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth....
, Pressler served on the organization's Greater Los Angeles board of directors from 1994–2002 and on the National board of directors from 2002- 2009.
Pressler was the president and CEO of Gap, Inc. from September 2002 to 22 January 2007. He also served on the company's Board of Directors.
Before Gap, Pressler spent 15 years with The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, most recently as chairman of the Parks and Resorts division. Prior to that he was president of Disneyland, president of the Disney Store chain and senior vice president of Disney Licensing. Before joining Disney he was vice president of design and marketing for Kenner
Kenner
Kenner Products was a toy company founded in 1947 by three brothers, Albert, Phillip, and Joseph L. Steiner, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, and was named after the street where the original corporate offices were located, which is just north of Cincinnati's Union Terminal.Kenner introduced its...
-Parker Toys.
A New York native, Pressler received a bachelors degree in business economics from the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
in Oneonta, New York
Oneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
.
The Disney Store
Pressler joined The Disney Store as president in 1993. The store opened up hundreds of new shops all over the world and was making larger profits for the company than Walt Disney Feature AnimationWalt Disney Feature Animation
Walt Disney Animation Studios is an American animation studio headquartered in Burbank, California. The studio, founded in 1923 as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio by brothers Walt and Roy Disney, is the oldest subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
at one point. In 1994, Pressler was appointed president of the company's Disneyland theme park. He led the team developing the property into a two-park, three-hotel resort .
Disneyland/Disneyland Resort
In 1996, Pressler oversaw a major expansion, including the opening of the new Disney's California AdventureDisney's California Adventure
Disney California Adventure, or simply California Adventure, is a theme park in Anaheim, California, adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened on February 8, 2001 as Disney's California Adventure Park. The park is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and...
theme park; a new hotel, Disney's Grand Californian; the remodeling of an existing hotel, Paradise Pier; a new retail, dining and entertainment complex called Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney is the name of two outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complexes located at two Disney resorts:* Downtown Disney , at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida...
; and a new multi-story parking area. The new park and hotels opened in early 2001, and the entire complex was named the Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...
.
In 1996, Pressler approved a $100 million change to one of Disneyland's attraction areas, called Tomorrowland. This change would include several new attractions and an updated 'Jules Verne' theme for the area.
During his tenure as president the theme parks saw record profits, and various changes were made to the theme park's merchandise and operations. California Adventure consistently underperformed corporate and public expectations, and in November, 2007, Disney announced an over $1 billion overhaul to enhance and expand the original park. Profits also came at the expense of maintenance as light bulbs, landscapes and fixtures went unchanged or ignored, But Pressler did push through a period of record profits for the Disney theme park division. However, after the events of September 11, 2001 (shortly after California Adventure opened), tourism to the resort had dropped.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Pressler was promoted to lead Disney's worldwide resorts division Disney Cruise LineDisney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is an American cruise line company owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a division of The Walt Disney Company and is headquartered in Celebration, Florida. The business is run by President Karl Holz. Disney Cruise Line operates the Disney Cruise Line Terminal,...
, the Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...
, the Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
and Disneyland Resort Paris
Disneyland Resort Paris
Disneyland Paris is a holiday and recreation resort in Marne-la-Vallée, a new town in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. The complex is located from the centre of Paris and lies for the most part within the commune of Chessy, Seine-et-Marne....
, as well as encourage negotiations with the government of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
over the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a resort built by the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company in Hong Kong on reclaimed land beside Penny's Bay, at the northeastern tip of Lantau Island, approximately two kilometres from Discovery Bay...
.
His time as head of the Parks and Resorts division is very controversial among fans of the company and its theme parks.