Rich Ross: Disney is searching for a successor -- right?
Rich Ross’ resignation as chairman of Walt DisneyStudios Friday came without a clear successor in place, signaling a highly unusual era of instability at the studio.
Walt Disney Co.Chief Executive Bob Iger has told certain individuals who do business with the company that he has not made a decision about Ross’ replacement, and did not indicate an urgency about doing so. In the meantime, Iger will rely on his production head, Sean Bailey (pictured), and president, Alan Bergman, to oversee the Burbank studio.
That hasn’t stopped Hollywood from chattering about likely contenders, including Stacey Snider, chief executive and co-owner of DreamWorks Studios, which has a distribution deal with Disney. However, people close to Snider suggest that she’s not going anywhere soon, since she and her DreamWorks partner Steven Spielberg just signed a new, $200-million financing deal with their main investor, India’s Reliance Entertainment.
-- Rebecca Keegan and Nicole Sperling, Los Angeles Times