Geoff Morrell's stint as Disney's chief corporate affairs officer only lasted a few months last year. However, many remember the former Disney executive as the man who resigned shortly after leaking the opening date for EPCOT's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction. He was also the person in charge of Disney's public image when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis started his spat with the company. Morrell has now taken up a new business endeavor by registering as a foreign agent for the Saudi government. This endeavor has Morrell work with Saudi Arabia to promote and market the merger between the PGA Tour pro golf league and LIV Golf, a growing tour funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIV).
From Disney to Saudi Arabia
Geoff Morrell filed a Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) this week. In this position, Morrell says he will provide the Saudi government with communications and stakeholder consulting services and support government affairs engagement. New York Times reporter Ken Vogel was the first to bring the registration to public attention.
This announcement comes shortly after Morrell's predecessor, Zenia Mucha, was hired by the TikTok social platform as its communications director, a role that sees her go to bat for the Chinese-owned company's reputation. It also correlates with several other prominent Disney executives jumping ship.
Geoff Morrell, who reportedly was paid $120k/day by @Disney to run corporate affairs during a fraught 4-month stretch that included its fight with @RonDeSantis over the "Don't Say Gay" bill, has registered as a FOREIGN AGENT for the Saudis re: the @PGATour https://t.co/4Ja2ryYNHd pic.twitter.com/mzHctCIOpb
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) June 22, 2023
Morrell did not last long in his position as a Disney executive. During his time as chief corporate affairs officer, Disney was thrown into a battle with Governor Ron DeSantis after they criticized his “Don't Say Gay” bill. DeSantis has since started a war with the company over what he perceives as it catering to a progressive social agenda. The Walt Disney Company paid Morrell a lot of money to oversee its affairs, but he resigned while the fight was still heating up, claiming it wasn't a right fit for him. He now hopes to find a good fit by working to promote the Saudi LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger's public relations.
Geoff Morrell, who most recently led Disney's corporate affairs for less than 4 months last year, has registered as a foreign agent for the Saudi government in his new role helping with media relations for the PIF’s partnership with the PGA Tour. https://t.co/Bmo3bpQcCB
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) June 23, 2023
LIV Golf has been rising to prominence over the past year or so. The announcement of its unification with the PGA Tour shook the foundations of the pro golf world, as it was widely seen as something to avoid by pro golfers for much of its fledging operations due to its connection to Saudi Arabia. It is important to note that this merger has yet to officially happen as the two organizations have to work through the political bodies required to navigate such a major consolidation.
