Fox Entertainment Restructures Operations, Layoffs Hit About 30 Staffers

Fox Entertainment has unveiled a restructuring of its operations that includes layoffs for about 30 staffers.

“While there are many exciting aspects to realizing our path forward, one of the most difficult phases in any reorganization is recognizing where redundancies exist and how evolving priorities affect our team,” Rob Wade, CEO of Fox Entertainment, wrote in an all-employee email. “Today, we informed some of our colleagues that their jobs were impacted by the restructuring process. This step was solely related to aligning our business operations, ambitious growth strategies and the dynamics of our industry today.”

He continued, “As we evolve the business to be more efficient and effective, we open the door to incredible opportunity with creativity as the enduring center of it all. In completing our restructuring, I’m confident that we have the team in place to achieve remarkable things, as we increasingly invest in original entertainment and solidify our position as a global studio and distributor.”

2024 has brought downsizing efforts across the industry as Hollywood recovers from COVID-19 and last year’s dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. On Tuesday, Warner Bros. Discovery laid off nearly 1,000 employees across finance, business affairs, production and streaming sectors, according to an insider source.

On May 31, Disney completed its 7,000 layoff goal, cutting heavily from media divisions while the parks were mostly left alone. The Mouse House is also planning to cut more jobs internationally over a period of time, according to a source close to the situation. Pixar also unleashed a wave of layoffs ten days prior, letting go of 175 employees or 14% of its staff.

Among the prominent executives affected is Les Eisner, longtime senior VP of corporate communications for Fox Entertainment. The industry veteran had been in the role since 2016, and during his first stint on the Fox lot from 2004 to 2007, Eisner ran communications for Fox’s Twentieth Television syndication division.