Former Walt Disney Parks & Resorts President Lands A Director Job

After giving 40 years of his life to a career with the Mouse, Al Weiss retired in November 2011. But you don’t have to worry for Al, he’s just been appointed to the Board of Directors at the Apollo Group. Mr. Weiss will serve as an independent director of the company, and will sit on the audit committee.

“Al brings a tremendous amount of business talent and expertise to the board,” said John Sperling, executive chairman of the board of Apollo Group. “Not only did Al lead Disney’s Parks and Resorts division through its strongest period of revenue and profit growth ever — in the midst of a worldwide economic recession — he did so without compromising the high-quality experience Disney’s guests have come to expect.”

Click below the jump for the rest of the press release:

Mr. Weiss retired from The Walt Disney Corporation in November 2011, after nearly 40 years of employment with the company. Most recently, Mr. Weiss served as president of worldwide operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, overseeing all aspects of business operations at Disney’s theme parks and resorts throughout the world. Under Mr. Weiss’ leadership, Disney’s Parks and Resorts division experienced double-digit revenue growth and improved profitability, while maintaining an outstanding guest experience at every Disney resort and theme park.

Prior to serving as president of worldwide operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Mr. Weiss served as president of the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. He began his career as a cast member at Walt Disney World, and rose through the ranks to become one of Disney’s most senior leaders.

An active community and business leader, Mr. Weiss was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the board of directors of the Corporation for Travel Promotion, where he worked with other industry leaders to promote travel to the United States. In addition, Mr. Weiss serves as a member of numerous civic, community and business groups, including: the governor’s council of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission; the advisory board of directors of SunTrust Bank, Central Florida; the board of trustees of the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research; and the advisory board of Give Kids the World. Previously, Mr. Weiss served as chairman of the board of the University of Central Florida Foundation, and is a past member of the UCF board of trustees.

Mr. Weiss is the recipient of numerous business, community and volunteer awards. In 2005, he was named “Most Influential Businessman in Central Florida,” by the Orlando Business Journal. In addition, he has been recognized by Pop Warner Football, the University of Central Florida, and the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business for his accomplishments as a business and community leader. Mr. Weiss is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, and received his MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.