Top Media Executive Fired from Disney Company

Disney leadership has changed quite a bit over the past few years, and even in recent months.

The Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California.

We’ve seen imagineers retire, Bob Iger step down from his role as Chairman of the Board, and other changes impact the Company. And now a top executive from Disney has been fired.

According to the New York Times, Disney has “abruptly” fired Peter Rice. Rice served as the chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content. He was, in essence, one of Disney’s most senior television content executives. According to some people who were briefed on the matter, Disney has fired Rice due to an “ill fit with Disney’s corporate culture.”

The New York Times shares that the Disney General Entertainment Content division is a division that helps create “more than 300 shows annually for platforms like ABC, Disney Channel, Disney+, Hulu and FX.”

The Times shares that Rice was fired by Disney CEO Bob Chapek in a “brief meeting” this past Wednesday. According to those familiar with the matter, Rice had renewed his contract with Disney back in August and it was set to run through 2024. Those sources indicated that Disney will pay him out as part of the contract.

Who will replace Rice? Well, Disney is expected to announce that Dana Walden (chairwoman for entertainment for Walt Disney Television) will replace him.

According to the New York Times, Rice is “widely admired” in Hollywood, so his firing will “go off like a sonic boom.” In fact, he is reportedly so admired that some individuals outside of Disney had seen him as a possible candidate to eventually succeed Chapek as CEO. The Times shares that “Mr. Chapek’s decision is sure to generate questions about whether that chatter got a little too loud.”

Bob Chapek Filming in front of Cinderella Castle

However, in an emailed statement, Susan E. Arnold, the chairwoman of the board, said “The strength of the Walt Disney Company’s businesses coming out of the pandemic is a testament to Bob’s leadership and vision for the company’s future…In this important time of business growth and transformation, we are committed to keeping Disney on the successful path it is on today, and Bob and his leadership team have the support and confidence of the Board.”

Bob Chapek at the Galaxy’s Edge dedication ceremony at Hollywood Studios

We’ll continue to look for updates on this situation and let you know what we find. If you’re wondering what else has been happening with the Disney Company lately, you can click here to see the latest on Disney’s financial figures and just how the theme parks are doing.

You can also click here to see Disney’s comments on the impact of inflation and supply issues, and click here to see the latest comments from Disney’s CEO about Park Passes.

Things in the Disney Company will likely continue to change as the company works to increase stock prices and take other actions to improve Disney+ streaming numbers and more. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates.