Hollywood Pictures Chief Leaves Disney for Book Publishing Job

There’s one less Michael at Disney.

Michael Lynton, president of Walt Disney Co.’s Hollywood Pictures unit for two years, will return to the New York publishing business as chairman and chief executive of book giant Penguin Group.

Lynton’s departure, which was expected, comes amid a sweeping reorganization of Disney’s film operation, in which Hollywood Pictures will no longer be involved in the production of films as part of a long-term plan to trim the number of Disney live-action releases. In addition, an executive revamping at Disney’s film unit is expected to be announced soon.

Lynton, 36, was unexpectedly tapped to replace Ricardo Mestres as head of Hollywood Pictures in 1994.

Previously, he started and headed Disney Publishing, including its Hyperion book unit. During Lynton’s tenure, Hollywood Pictures released such films as “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” “Crimson Tide,” “The Santa Clause,” “Dangerous Minds” and “The Rock.”

In an interview, Lynton said Disney Chairman Michael Eisner and President Michael Ovitz had sought to find a way to keep him at Disney but that the Penguin offer was too good to pass up.

“It was more a function that I wanted to do this specific job. It’s such a unique job,” he said.

At Penguin, the trade book publishing arm of British media group Pearson, Lynton will replace Peter Mayer, who is leaving the company to run his family’s publishing business.