Andy Bird, chairman of Walt Disney International, is stepping down after a 14-year career with the company, studio sources have told TheWrap. His successor has yet to be decided.
Bird’s departure comes two weeks after Disney’s domestic distribution head Dave Hollis announced his departure from the studio coming at the end of April, and will move to Texas to become CEO of his wife’s company, Chic Media. He will be replaced by Catherine Taff, current head of integrated planning and franchise management.
Bird will remain with Disney for a transition period as part of the company restructuring announced by CEO Bob Iger last Wednesday. The restructuring is being done in anticipation of Disney’s pending $54.2 billion takeover of 21st Century Fox, with some positions being consolidated as the company takes on Fox’s film and TV operations. Kevin Mayer will lead the new streaming operations, while Bob Chapek, head of Disney’s theme parks division, will also head consumer products.
“We are strategically positioning our businesses for the future, creating a more effective, global framework to serve consumers worldwide, increase growth, and maximize shareholder value,” Iger said.
Bird joined Disney in 2004, spearheading plans to expand Disney into the rising media markets in China. He previously worked at Time Warner as general manager of Turner Entertainment Networks and later as president of TBS International.