Karl Holtz
Karl Holz, president of New Vacation Operations and Disney Cruise Line, has announced that he will be retiring effective February 15, 2018. He will be replaced by Anthony Connelly, Executive Vice President of Global Business Operations at Walt Disney Imagineering. In addition to Disney Cruise Line, Karl oversees Disney Vacation Club and Adventures by Disney.
Holtz originally joined Disney in 1996 as vice president of Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World and then moved to vice president of Epcot and senior vice president of Walt Disney World Operations. In 2004, he moved to Paris as president and chief executive officer of Euro Disney S.A.S. before coming to Disney Cruise Line in 2009. He also oversaw the opening of Aulani.
Connelly is a 27-year Cast Member who had previously served as senior vice president, Disney Cruise Line, responsible for all fleet-wide operations. He will oversee the construction and launch of two new ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet among his other responsibilities.