Massive Disney Executive Changes - Cook, Ross, and Grier
Posted by Ashley McChesney on Tue, Oct 06, 2009 @ 02:21 PM
It seems that we can start to expect major Disney news once a week, thats been the trend anyway. News keeps pouring out of the executive offices leaving fans asking how smart it is to change most of your star lineup at once.
Ed Grier (President of Disneyland Resort) is retiring from the Disney Company citing "growth and change in my own family." This is the Fourth Disneyland President to step down after three years in service. He officially stepped down on Friday, October 2nd 2009. As of yet no replacement has been named. In a memo to employees he said:
"I have been humbled and honored during the past three years as I've watched your hard work create smiles and laughter, and delight our Guests. The power of Disney magic never ceases to amaze me, and your passion will always be a source of inspiration"
Fans have taken to message boards and their own blogs to say that this seems to be a good move for Disney. However, the matter of Dick Cook leaving and his replacement are a whole different matter!
Dick Cook was Disney's studio chief who was in charge of developing, distributing and marketing all films, live-action or animated, released by Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures. Dick Cook's leaving Disney (in September of 2009) spurned rage in fans and Hollywood alike, pushing Johnny Depp to say that Cook's departure made him lose his appetite for doing more Pirates Films. Disney is working hard to say that the Depp rumors are false and working even harder to quell the uprising that the announcement of Rich Ross being Cook's replacement caused.
Rich Ross was an executive at Disney Channel that you can thank for Hanna Montana and High School Musical. No one questions his selling power and ability to spot stars from a mile away but T.V. and movies are worlds apart. However, Disney has made some major financial cuts to Miramax (one of the labels under the Disney umbrella) which will make Rich Ross' job marginally smaller for the time being. Fans are wondering if he will be in over his head when Disney moves forward with its plans to buy Marvel though. Or their new "creepy" film line Double Dare You that already had its first movie "Trollhunter" in the works, that will be a huge task all by itself. I suppose only time will tell, but the world of Disney has enough drama for its own movie! We will keep you up to date as we get the news.
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