Ride operator turned studio head leaves after 38 years.
The circle of life continues in the corporate world: Walt Disney Studios head Dick Cook has left the company suddenly after 38 years. Whether Cook simply resigned or was pressured to quit is unclear, but the Los Angeles Times chalks up the abrupt departure to bad blood between Cook and Disney Chief Executive Robert A. Iger, who supposedly blames Cook for a less-than-stellar track record. The box office has not always been kind to Cook, with duds like G-Force and Race to Witch Mountain occurring under his watch. A former Disneyland ride operator who made his way to the top, Cook is reportedly known for maintaining a high level of secrecy that conflicted with Iger’s push for collaboration. Cook’s successor has not yet been announced.
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