NEWS: Changes in Leadership at Walt Disney Studios Announced

There have been quite a few changes in Disney leadership announced lately. Imagineer Joe Rohde recently shared that he would be retiring, and Walt Disney World executive Jim MacPhee is also set to retire soon.

A major restructuring also occurred in October to support Disney’s shifted focus to streaming, and we’ve since seen one executive leave for a job at Netflix and we’ve also heard about other changes with Disney’s TV studios. Well, today another change was announced regarding the leadership of Disney Studios Content.

According to Disney’s press release, Alan Bergman and Alan Horn have led the Disney Studios Content group together as Co-Chairman since May of 2019. Effective January 1st, 2021, however, Alan Bergman will become the sole Chairman of Disney Studios Content, and Alan Horn will continue as the division’s Chief Creative Officer.

As the Chairman, Bergman will “oversee creative, production, marketing, and operations for Disney Studios Content,” which includes Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and Blue Sky Studios, and Disney Theatrical Productions. Bergman has been at Disney for 24 years and was President of The Walt Disney Studios for several years before becoming Co-Chairman in 2019.

As the new Chief Creative Officer, Horn will focus more on the “creative aspects of the Studios’ content pipeline,” and work in partnership with Bergman on the Studios’ creative approach. Horn started working for Disney in 2012 as the Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, but has a career spanning nearly 50 years and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Warner Bros. for over 10 years.

Bob Chapek noted that ““The Walt Disney Studios’ achievements under the leadership of Alan Horn and Alan Bergman have been nothing short of extraordinary.” During their time together as Co-Chairmen, the Walt Disney Studios hit several records in the box office with many successful movies.

Both Horn and Bergman will report to Bob Chapek, Disney’s current CEO. And the leads of each individual production studio will continue to report to both Bergman and Horn on creative matters.

In discussing his role as Chairman, Bergman noted, “I am grateful to take on the role of Chairman of the Studios as I believe deeply in our people, culture, and the work we do.”

In terms of his shift in focus to just creative work as the upcoming Chief Creative Officer, Horn said, “It has been an amazing run, and the time feels right to shift my focus solely to our enormous creative slate. As for our new Studios Chairman, Alan Bergman has been at my side since day one; he has been the best partner imaginable, and the team could be in no better hands.”

Curious about what falls under Disney Studios Content? Here’s a break-down of all the studios and their leaders:

• 20th Century Studios: Steve Asbell, President;
• Blue Sky Studios: Robert Baird, Co-President;
• Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production: Sean Bailey, President;
• Pixar Animation Studios: Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer;
• Marvel Studios: Kevin Feige, President and Marvel: Kevin Feige, Chief Creative Officer;
• Searchlight Pictures: Stephen Gilula, Chairman;
• Lucasfilm: Kathleen Kennedy, President;
• Walt Disney Animation Studios: Jennifer Lee, Chief Creative Officer;
• Searchlight Pictures: Nancy Utley, Chairman; and
• Disney Theatrical Productions: Thomas Schumacher, President.

With Disney planning to add 100+ new original titles to Disney+ each year, and TONS of new content announced this past Investor Day, there is certainly a lot of creative content being worked on and developed that Horn and Bergman will be managing in their separate roles. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates and Disney news, so be sure to come back for all the latest.

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