Chairman of Walt Disney Studios resigns

by Leah Zanolla
Sep 18, 2009

Dick Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios, has left his position effective immediately. Cook began his career with Disney in 1971 as a ride operator on the steam train and monorail at Disneyland and worked his way up to chairman of the Studios in 2002.

During Cook's time as chairman, groundbreaking deals were made with DreamWorks and Marvel Entertainment. It was during this time that Disney became the first studio to go forward with digital 3-D as well as passed the billion-dollar mark at the box office 12 times during the past 15 years in the American market.

In recent months though, several movies have not done as well as projected. According to Variety magazine, "CEO Bob Iger expressed unhappiness with the studio's slate in a conference call with Wall Street analysts in May."

After the news of Cook's departure, Iger thanked him for his "tremendous passion for Disney."

Cook's replacement has not yet been selected.

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• Last Updated: Feb 8, 2012 - 9:40:38 AM