Zach Riddley

Global Creative Strategy Executive | Walt Disney Imagineering

Zach Riddley leads the Global Creative Strategy Studio team for Walt Disney Imagineering, where he drives the vision, franchise, menu and master planning efforts to define project investments and future growth for all Disney theme parks, resort hotels, cruise ships and other themed family experiences. In this role, he also leads Imagineering’s New Experience Development team, which focuses on opportunities to expand Disney into new businesses and markets.

Zach Riddley Global Creative Strategy Executive | Walt Disney Imagineering Bio Zach Riddley leads the Global Creative Strategy Studio team for Walt Disney Imagineering, where he drives the vision, franchise, menu and master planning efforts to define project investments and future growth for all Disney theme parks, resort hotels, cruise ships and other themed family experiences. In this role, he also leads Imagineering’s New Experience Development team, which focuses on opportunities to expand Disney into new businesses and markets. An architect by trade, Zach applies a narrative-led treatment to the design and development of groundbreaking Disney experiences around the world. Previously, Zach was instrumental in driving the vision and design execution for all Imagineering efforts at Walt Disney World Resort, including the major transformation of EPCOT. Zach joined Imagineering in 2004, working on design concepts for Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Disney California Adventure Park. He went on to partner on the research, planning strategy, and successful relaunch of Disney California Adventure Park and contributed to the planning and development for Shanghai Disney Resort. Over the course of his career, Zach has led teams in charge of master planning and developing projects for each global destination — marrying creative vision and business strategy with the execution of major projects. Zach graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Architecture and received his Master of Architecture from Princeton University. Zach is a lecturer with the UCLA School of Architecture, where he teaches a graduate seminar on the role of story in modern architecture.