Latondra Newton, Disney’s Chief Diversity Officer, Is Planning To Leave The Company

Latondra Newton

Since 2017, Latondra Newton has been Disney’s chief officer of diversity. She is going away from the organization. Tuesday, the Disney personnel received a memo from Sonia Coleman, the company’s senior HR officer, informing them of Newton’s resignation. As stated by Coleman, Latondra Newton chose to leave their company to focus on other endeavors. She reportedly intends to pursue a creative business she runs while also joining a corporate board.

Latondra Newton’s direct reports would now be reporting to the SVP of Talent Acquisition, Julie Merges, who will oversee DEI operations in an acting capacity while Newton’s replacement is being sought, according to Disney.

Latondra Newton Leaves Disney And Seeks To Explore Other Options 

Latondra Newton served as Disney’s strategic diversity and inclusion programs’ SVP, Chief Officer of Diversity, in this capacity. The profile on Disney’s website states that she collaborated with “various individuals across the company as well as business segments to create Disney’s commitment to producing work that reflects an international audience as well as sustains a wholesome and inclusive place of work for everyone.”

During her tenure at Disney, she co-signed the “Resolve in the Time of Unrest” message sent to Disney personnel in May 2020 at the rise of the murder of George Floyd with Bob Iger and Bob Chapek. The trio promised in it that they would “use our kindness, our innovative thinking, and our sense of compassion to make sure we are establishing a system that honors our people’s emotions and their sorrow. 

Newton served as group VP for chief diversity officer and social innovation before joining Disney. Toyota Motor Corporation’s chief officer of the program for the Toyota Mobility Foundation and Toyota Motor North America, Inc. In 1991, she began working for Toyota.