Disney Studio boss Rich Ross resigned Friday in the aftermath of the gigantic box office flops "John Carter" and "Mars Needs Moms," the Los Angeles Times reported.
Ross, 50, moved to the fabled film studio in 2009 from the Disney
Channel, where he had groomed TV hits such as Hannah Montana and High
School Musical.
But his attempts to replicate his success on the big screen fell
flat as he cut costly film plans but still ended up with some of the
most expensive flops in recent history.
"John Carter," an action drama about Mars, lost 200 million
dollars earlier this year. Last year, the animated Mars Needs Moms
also flopped.
Ross revealed his resignation in an email to staff Friday morning,
the Los Angeles Times reported.
"I no longer believe the chairman role is the right professional
fit for me," he wrote. "For that reason, I have made the very
difficult decision to step down as chairman of The Walt Disney
Studios, effective today."
In a statement, Bob Iger, overall chairman of Disney operations,
touted Ross' contributions to the company. "His vision and leadership
opened doors for Disney around the world, making our brand part of
daily life for millions of people," Iger said in a statement.
