New position for Marty Sklar

[Leftcoaster]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060216/media_nm/disney_dc_1

Disney's Sklar exits Imagineering job for parks post By Sheigh Crabtree
Thu Feb 16, 7:09 AM ET



LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The executive shake-ups continued at the Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday as the company adjusts to its recent $7.4 billion acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios.



Marty Sklar, a 50-year veteran at Disney, stepped down as vice chairman and principal creative exec for Walt Disney Imagineering in the wake of Pixar executive vp John Lasseter being named principal creative adviser of the theme park division. In his new position, Lasseter reports to Disney CEO Robert Iger, bypassing parks and resorts management.

Sklar will serve as Walt Disney parks and resorts Imagineering ambassador, a role as yet undefined

[tjkraz]

Thanks for posting that link. I read about this earlier today at www.o-meon.com. There you can find the text of the internal memo that was circulated within the company.

I wonder if this move was greeted as warmly by Marty as his quotes would make it seem. There are a lot of people who hold folks like Marty and Tom Fitzgerald responsible for letting WDI become so subservient to the beancounters at TWDC in recent years. With Lassiter taking over at WDI, it seemed inevitable that some high-level personnel changes would follow.

For those who may not know, Marty Sklar began his career with Disney right out of college, just a few months after Disneyland opened. For a long period, he was Walt's speechwriter. Many of the words that we attribute to Walt Disney were actually articulated by Marty Sklar.

I hope Marty finds peace and contentment in his new role...whatever it may be. He's an irreplacable part of the Disney legacy.

[dvcconvert]

I hope Marty finds peace and contentment in his new role...whatever it may be. He's an irreplacable part of the Disney legacy.


I believe he will -- and he absolutely is! :)

Marty is a smart, intelligent, funny and very committed man. This was no surprise to him and I'm *quite sure* he's looking forward to more of a 'grandfatherly' role with WDI/TWDC :)

[jdvm]

It's not my quote, but a lot of people describe (former) Pixar owner and now Disney director and largest shareholder (substantially more than Roy) as, "the Walt Disney of this generation". I think there are going to be lots of changes. Hold on to your hats...it's gonna get fun.

[RweTHEREyet]

I may be wrong, but it seems to me that with the direction that all things Disney were taking, that almost any change is going to be a good change.

[tjkraz]

This was no surprise to him and I'm *quite sure* he's looking forward to more of a 'grandfatherly' role with WDI/TWDC :)

Thanks for posting that. He certainly deserves it.

I was thrilled to meet Marty a couple months ago, and it certainly warms my heart to know that he's ready for this change rather than feeling that he's somehow been put out to pasture.