Disney Vice Chairman Resigns

The Walt Disney Co. (Burbank, Calif.) announced the departure of its vice chairman Sanford M. Litvack, who had served as lead adviser to chair and ceo Michael Eisner for almost 10 years. Litvack has decided to leave the company at the end of the year to “pursue other interests.”

Formerly a New York trial lawyer, Litvack joined Disney in 1991. His role included participation in legal and governmental issues, corporate partnerships and sports operations. He will continue to offer support in many of these areas on a “nonexclusive” basis, according to reports. The company has no intentions of appointing a successor, and Litvack's responsibilities will be distributed among various executives.

Litvack's resignation has been called the completion of a “changing of the guard” for Disney's executives, since almost all the company's top posts have turned over in the last two years.