Pressler, 43, has served as president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since 1998, with responsibility for the company�s theme parks and resorts, the Disney Cruise Line, Disney Regional Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering. In addition, he has been responsible for the business� long-term growth and international expansion initiatives. 

�One of the greatest challenges a business leader can have is to take an already thriving enterprise and build it to even greater success, and this is what Paul has achieved during the past six years,� Eisner said. �When he came to Disney Parks and Resorts, it was already a world leader; yet he has been able to forge ahead to still stronger performance thanks to his remarkable combination of management skills and sheer creativity.� 

�Attendance and earnings at our parks and resorts are at an all-time high and we are now poised for even greater success in the years ahead thanks to an unprecedented worldwide expansion that Paul has overseen,� Iger said.

�Highlights of 2001 include the opening of Disney�s California Adventure theme park adjacent to Disneyland Resort, and the unveiling of Tokyo DisneySea, a second theme park at Tokyo Disneyland. And in 2002, Disney Paris Studios
will premiere as the second theme park at Disneyland Paris. These new parks will not only be major assets in themselves, but as happened when Epcot opened in 1982, they will transform established Disney destinations into
true multi-day vacation resorts. Paul and his team of Imagineers are also at work on Hong Kong Disneyland, which will create an important Disney �tentpole� in China.� 

Pressler was named president of Disneyland Resort in 1994. Previously, Pressler was president of The Disney Stores. He joined Disney in 1987 as senior vice president for Disney Licensing. Prior to joining Disney, he had been vice president of marketing and design for Kenner-Parker Toys. 

Pressler is on the board of directors of Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles and serves on its executive committee.  He also is on the board of directors of Disney GOALS, a youth hockey program in Anaheim, Calif. He has previously served on the board of directors of the Resources for Children with Special Needs and on the advisory board of the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. 
He is a native of New York and holds a bachelor of science degree in business economics from the State University of New York at Oneonta.