Disney studios boss quits

The Walt Disney Studios chairman Rich Ross was forced to resign on Friday, less than three years after taking the role.

Ross, who previously ran Disney’s cable networks, greenlit only a limited number of movies during his tenure including high school drama Prom, Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful and Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger, starring Johnny Depp. He was also largely blamed for the box office failure of sci fi feature John Carter.

“I no longer believe the chairman role is the right professional fit for me,” Ross said in a statement. “For that reason, I have made the very difficult decision to step down as chairman of the Walt Disney Studios, effective today.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger said: “For more than a decade, Rich Ross’s creative instincts, business acumen and personal integrity have driven results in key businesses for Disney, redefining success in kids and family entertainment and launching franchises that generate value across our entire company. His vision and leadership opened doors for Disney around the world, making our brand part of daily life for millions of people. I appreciate his countless contributions throughout his entire career at Disney and expect he will have tremendous success in whatever he chooses to do next.”