Former PayPal Legal Executive Louise Pentland named Chief Counsel of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Sep 06, 2023 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Wednesday September 6, 2023 9:17am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Louise Pentland has been appointed Chief Counsel for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, effective September 15, 2023.

Previously holding a senior legal role at PayPal, Pentland will now oversee all legal and regulatory aspects of Disney's expansive parks and consumer products division, which includes six international theme parks, a cruise line, and a global consumer products operation.

She will report to Horacio Gutierrez, Disney's Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, as a strategic advisor to the division's Chairman, Josh D'Amaro. With over two decades of legal experience in global companies, Pentland brings expertise in regulatory, compliance, and business affairs. She has also held leadership positions at Nokia and serves on several corporate and non-profit boards.

"Louise Pentland is a highly accomplished legal executive with more than two decades of experience serving at the highest levels of innovative global companies," said Gutierrez. "Her broad expertise working with complex business, regulatory and compliance matters around the world and her track record as an exemplary leader make her a superb addition to the leadership team at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products."

At PayPal, Pentland served most recently as EVP, Chief Business Affairs and Legal Officer, and was responsible for the company's global People, Legal, Communications, Intellectual Property, Government Relations and Social Innovation functions, with oversight over all financial, regulatory and legal requirements worldwide. She led stakeholder engagement to promote PayPal's reputation globally through corporate affairs initiatives and oversaw the company's People function, including diversity and inclusion initiatives, workforce planning, employee relations, compensation, benefits, leadership excellence, culture, pro-bono initiatives and ESG.

Prior to PayPal, Pentland was Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Nokia Corporation, where she directed the company's legal and government affairs functions, M&A and IP management, for which her team was named Europe’s most innovative in-house legal team by the Financial Times in 2011.

Pentland has served as a member of Hitachi Ltd.'s Board of Directors since 2015, Pacific Life's Board of Directors since 2020 and Experian PLC's Board of Directors since 2022. Additionally, she was named to the Board of Directors of the non-profit Black Executive CMO Alliance (BECA) in 2021.

Pentland holds an undergraduate law degree from Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Northumbria University. Pentland is licensed to practice law in the U.S., England, Wales and Europe.

"This is an exciting time to join The Walt Disney Company and I'm honored to be part of a business that brings so much joy to people across the globe – myself included," said Pentland. "I've long admired Disney Parks' reputation as a global leader in tourism and consumer products, along with its exceptional history of innovation and growth, and I'm looking forward to taking on this role and helping advance the organization's ambitious goals for the future."

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monothingieJul 14, 2024

Of course, but the story said they would also be his chief ADVISOR.

doctornickJul 14, 2024

Wouldn't you want a lawyer be "chief counsel"?

Tha RealestJul 13, 2024

He’d be in hot water with the HR folks but he keeps promoting them over to WDI.

LilofanJul 13, 2024

Her net worth is over $10M. She will be fine.

CompedJul 13, 2024

That was fast...

HauntedPirateJul 13, 2024

“Louise, are these jeans too tight?” “*sigh* Legally? No. Realistically? You need help.”

SirwalterraleighJul 13, 2024

I’m sure she’s as creative and “grounded” as he is

HauntedPirateJul 13, 2024

Well, she lasted… *checks notes*… 10.5 months in the role before leaving the company.

monothingieJul 12, 2024

Nothing like Josh having a lawyer being his chief advisor in a division that is entirely guest and hospitality driven. That'll fill them empty hotel rooms and get more guests through the turnstiles!

nickysJul 11, 2024

An interesting leaving date, the day before the new LL system comes in, given the questions over international guests and pre-booking. 🤔

DCBakerJul 11, 2024

According to a new press release, Louise Pentland will be leaving her position as Chief Counsel for Disney Experiences to join Roku: SAN JOSE, Calif. — July 11, 2024 — Roku, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROKU) announced today that Louise Pentland will join the company as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective July 23. Pentland will report to Anthony Wood, Founder and CEO, and will succeed current SVP and General Counsel Stephen Kay, who is retiring in November. Pentland joins Roku from The Walt Disney Company, where she has been Executive Vice President and Chief Counsel for Disney Experiences and Products. In this role, she oversees all legal and regulatory matters for the segment’s businesses, which include its global theme park destinations, cruise operations, global consumer products operations, and e-commerce platform. https://newsroom.roku.com/news/2024/07/louise-pentland-to-join-roku-as-svp-and-general-counsel/0qauga7g-1720709531

SirwalterraleighSep 06, 2023

…I see Bob still is playing “tech executive”