Pixar names Jonathan Garson president effective Jan. 4
Disney's Pixar said Jonathan Garson will become studio president on Jan. 4, 2027, succeeding Jim Morris, who becomes president emeritus after 12 years in the role. Pete Docter remains chief creative officer.
AI-assisted · US Brief desk · Sources listed below
What happened
Pixar Animation Studios will make longtime Disney executive Jonathan Garson its president effective Jan. 4, 2027, Deadline reported. Jim Morris, president for 12 years and a Pixar veteran of 21 years, will become president emeritus. Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter continues to lead the studio creatively.
Garson, a 30-plus-year Disney veteran who has worked closely with Pixar for 16 years and most recently served as the studio's general manager, will oversee production and operations, partnering with Docter. Jonas Rivera expands as creative executive vice president, focusing on filmmakers and development with Docter. Morris will remain an executive producer on "Incredibles 3" and keep mentoring and technology projects, Deadline reported.
Disney Entertainment Studios Chairman Alan Bergman said the handoff ensures "a smooth succession" as Morris prepares for eventual retirement, and called Garson "an exceptional leader with a strong sense of what makes Pixar unique." Morris said leading Pixar had been "the privilege of a lifetime" after nearly 40 years across Lucasfilm and Pixar. Deadline said the move is not part of Disney's VERO buyout offers to long-term executives.
Why it matters
Pixar is mid-slate after the global hit "Toy Story 5" and ahead of originals "Gatto" (March 5, 2027) and "Ghost Market" (March 10, 2028) plus "Incredibles 3" in June 2028. A planned succession keeps production leadership stable while Disney continues broader cost-cutting elsewhere.
What’s next
The title changes take effect Jan. 4, 2027. Watch "Gatto"'s March 2027 release as the first major test of the new operating lineup.
More context
What's still unknown: how day-to-day producer reporting lines change under Garson, and whether further Pixar headcount or slate changes accompany Disney's wider restructuring.
3 listed sources
References listed by US Brief; a source count is not a verification score.
Editorial sourcing notes
Leadership details from Deadline's Nov. 4 report, corroborated by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
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