Alan Horn is retiring from Disney studios as the Chief Creative Officer. For the last ten years, Horn has been running Walt Disney Studios, now called Disney Studios Content. Horn came to Disney and stabilized the studios after the bumpy three year run of Rich Ross. Under Horn’s leadership, the studios have released 20 films that have passed the $1 billion mark. The studios also passed $7 billion globally in 2016 and 2018 and $11 billion in 2019, both of these were records. Horn was named Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios in 2012. He then became Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer in 2019 before shifting to the Chief Creative Officer role in 2021.
“It has been my great privilege and pleasure to be able to spend these past 50 years helping creative people tell stories that move, entertain, and connect audiences around the world – and a dream come true to have the chance to do it at Disney, no less,” said Horn. “I’m deeply thankful to Bob Iger for the opportunity he gave me and to Alan Bergman for being an incredible partner throughout this adventure, as well as to Bob Chapek for his steady leadership during these unprecedented times. I also must recognize the extraordinary leaders of our individual studios as well as our business teams and every single one of our fantastic team members. It’s never easy to say goodbye to a place you love, which is why I’ve done it slowly, but with Alan Bergman leading the way, I’m confident the incredible Studios team will keep putting magic out there for years to come.”
“While Alan has achieved tremendous success on behalf of the Company, his overall impact far transcends the bottom line,” Iger and Chapek said in their memo to Disney employees. “As everyone who knows him will attest, he is a leader of utmost integrity, and he has always shown his strong, unwavering support for creators and the creative process. Alan led a talented and collaborative Studio team that is the best in the industry, and he has positioned them well for continued long-term success under Alan Bergman and his senior leaders.”
“It truly has been an honor and a pleasure to work alongside Alan, and while we will miss him dearly, we are both enormously grateful for his example, wise counsel, support and friendship, and he will forever be a cherished member of our Disney family,” Iger and Chapek concluded.
Alan Horn will retire from The Walt Disney Company on December 31, 2021.
