Meow Wolf CEO Jose Tolosa to step down; former Walt Disney exec to lead in the interim

The CEO who helped Meow Wolf expand into the Texas market and who led the company during a time of financial uncertainty and layoffs will step down at the end of the month.

Jose Tolosa, CEO for more than three years, will be replaced in the interim by board member and former Walt Disney Co. executive Rebecca Campbell, Meow Wolf officials said Monday. An external search is underway for the next Meow Wolf leader.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together, and I’m confident the company is poised for an even more magical and mind-expanding future,” Tolosa said in a statement. “With a strong foundation now in place, I’m proud to pass the baton and excited for what’s next — for Meow Wolf and for me.”

Tolosa joined Meow Wolf leadership in January 2022, a time when the company was preparing for its expansion to Texas; an exhibition, “The Real Unreal,” in Grapevine opened in 2023 and Houston’s “Radio Tave” opened in October. Meow Wolf also announced an exhibition will open in Los Angeles next year and, just last month, said it will open a New York City exhibition at Pier 17 in the historic Seaport.

But Tolosa’s success in leading the expansion into Texas was also marred by last year’s layoffs, when the company cut more than 200 workers across its operations. Last April, the Santa Fe-based company let go of 159 workers and in December announced it would cut another 75 as it looked to dial down on expenses.

Meow Wolf officials said Tolosa plans to stay with the company in an advisory role through the end of May to “support the transition and ensure continuity following a period of significant growth and transformation for the company.”

Campbell joined the board in January 2024 after more than two decades of experience at Walt Disney, where she held roles like chair of international content and operations, and president of Disneyland Resort and the company’s ABC-owned television stations.

“Meow Wolf’s bold creativity and community spirit are what drew me in from the start,” Campbell said in a statement. “I’m honored to support the team through this transition and excited to help build on the incredible foundation already in place.”