Embattled Disney CEO Bob Chapek canned Television content boss Peter Rice on Thursday in a surprise shakeup that blindsided Disney employees, as perfectly as Rice himself, sources said.
Rice — who oversaw the division that manufactured around 300 exhibits a year for platforms like ABC, Disney Channel, Disney+, Hulu and Forex — had just lately renewed his contract by way of 2024, according to reviews.
But Chapek individually introduced down the hammer on Rice, according to the New York Times, which cited “an unwell fit” with the Mouse House’s corporate tradition.
Disney verified the ouster Thursday with no providing any particulars of why Rice was enable go.
Rice did not return requests for remark.
He will be replaced by his next in command, Dana Walden, who came above with Rice following Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019. Rice experienced served as chairman of basic amusement information.
“Dana is a dynamic, collaborative leader and cultural drive who in just 3 yrs has transformed our television organization into a content material powerhouse that constantly provides the leisure audiences crave,” Chapek mentioned.
The CEO touted Walden’s achievements, which involve “championing artistic talent and building programming that really captures the cultural zeitgeist” these kinds of as ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” Onyx Collective’s Academy Award-winning “Summer of Soul” and Hulu’s “The Dropout.”
Rice, who also oversaw ABC News, just renewed his contract at Disney in August, Puck News reported. It ran until eventually the finish of 2024 and Disney will pay out the exec out, resources advised the Times.
Chapek has had a complicated couple of months as he has grappled with the fallout from his fumbling response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. Disney’s inventory value has also plummeted as media watchers voiced considerations about the profitability of its streaming assistance. Less than Chapek, the organization allow go of its most senior communications government, Geoff Morrell, following just 3 months on the occupation.
All the press for a corporation that experienced operate relatively efficiently less than Chapek’s predecessor, Bob Iger, induced some in Hollywood to speculate if Chapek was up to the task.
Disney chairman Susan Arnold gave Chapek the board’s backing in an emailed assertion Thursday.
“The energy of The Walt Disney Company’s businesses coming out of the pandemic is a testomony to Bob’s leadership and eyesight for the company’s long term,” she reported. “In this critical time of business growth and transformation, we are fully commited to keeping Disney on the profitable path it is on now, and Bob and his management group have the help and self-assurance of the Board.”
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