Dick Cook leaves Disney

September 18, 2009 Cook, a genial and well-liked executive who just last week presided over the first edition of D23 Expo, a Disney fan convention in Anaheim, said, I have loved every minute of my 38 years that I have worked at Disney ... from the beginning as a ride operator on Disneyland's steam train and monorail to my position as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. Disney president and CEO Robert Iger hailed Cook, who rose through the studio's distribution ranks before taking on the top job at the studio, saying, Throughout his distinguished 38-year Disney career, Dick Cook's outstanding creative instincts and incomparable showmanship have truly enriched this company and significantly impacted Disney's great legacy. In May, Iger blamed the film studio for the fact that Disney's operating income plunged 97% during the company's second quarter, said that quarter's film returns were disappointing and vowed that measures were being taken to cut costs related to production, output, marketing and global infrastructure.

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