Walt Disney Family Museum has a New Executive Director

Well, not exactly brand new, as Kirsten Komoroske has been the Interim Director since just after the previous CEO left early this year.

September 4th 2013

The Walt Disney Family Museum announced today that Kirsten Komoroske has been named the new Executive Director. A San Francisco Bay Area native, Ms. Komoroske has been serving as interim director since May 2013.

As a practicing lawyer, Ms. Komoroske has specialized in advising nonprofit organizations and corporations on a wide range of strategic, business, and human resources issues throughout her career. Ms. Komoroske has held a number of executive and board positions, including General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources for Tyco Electronics Corporation, Interim Vice President of Human Resources at Groupon, Inc., and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. She has a background in and lifelong passion for the arts, having grown up studying violin and modern dance. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Italian from UC Berkeley.

“We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Kirsten as the new Executive Director at the museum,” said the Museum’s President and Walt Disney’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller. “We are supportive of and excited by her passion for the museum and my father’s legacy. This, together with her diverse experience across both for-profit and non-profit institutions, helps ensure our future success. We are enthusiastic to have Kirsten as a partner working with our dedicated team.”

“I am thrilled to be working with the Board and staff in driving the museum’s mission,” said Ms. Komoroske. “Just as Walt was a creative and inspiring storyteller, the museum amplifies his ideals with the hope that it will inspire creativity and innovation in our visitors.”

 I am a bit concerned, as I have heard a few other members are as well.  The press release above paints a very nice picture of Ms. Komoroske’s experience, but then the last person to run the Museum had a impressive resume as well.  There also is a question of her experience and knowledge of Walt Disney, something that seem to be a challenge to the overall success of the previous leaders.  This can be somewhat overcome through by having knowledgeable people around you, and listening to them.  But, I will hold back from form any opinion of Ms. Komoroske until I see some action, for it has always been my view that actions speak so much louder words.  One positive I've seen so far is going back to the title of Executive Director from the title of CEO.  I, and many others, never felt the title of CEO was quite right for the position.

In the meantime, I welcome her to the Walt Disney Family Museum, and really do wish her great success in her new endeavors.  I look forward to the opportunity to meet her.

Finally, here is hoping that “Three’s a Charm,” and it should be no secret to anyone that I am still hopeful that the new Executive Director and the Family can find a way to re-engage Jeff Kurtti in some way.

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

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