Ed Grier out as President at Disneyland

October 5, 2009, 2:18 PM · Disneyland President Ed Grier resigned today, effective Friday. The resignation took many in and around the company by surprise.

Grier wasn't much of a public leader, rarely being seen in the parks. But under his watch, Disneyland has prospered the past three years, with Disneyland Park winning the Theme Park Insider Award as the world's best theme park in 2009 and 2008.

Disneyland hasn't named a replacement. Here's more, and some background from the OC Register.

Update: [Oct. 7] Seems that Grier has applied, and named a finalist, to be the dean of a business school in Virginia.

Replies (2)

October 5, 2009 at 2:26 PM · The sudden resignation reminds me of the recent departure of Disney Studios chief Dick Cook. That leads me to wonder if Grier was fired.

In reality, the real force leading the Disneyland Resort is John Lasseter, the former Jungle skipper and current chief creative officer at Disney (and principal creative advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering) who spends a huge amount of time visiting the park (well, relative to Grier, anyway). I am sure that whoever the new president of Disneyland is, he or she will have to be selected with Lasseter's blessing.

October 5, 2009 at 2:44 PM · Jim Hill Media is reporting that Cook will be replaced by the (seprated at birth from Jim Carrey ) President of Disney Channels Worldwide Rich Ross.

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