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Jonathan Garson Named Pixar President as Jim Morris Steps Down to Emeritus Role
Confirmed
In Short: Disney has announced that Jonathan Garson will take over as president of Pixar, succeeding Jim Morris, who is stepping down to become president emeritus.
Disney has announced that Jonathan Garson will take over as president of Pixar, succeeding Jim Morris, who is stepping down to become president emeritus. The transition, effective January, marks a significant shift in leadership for the animation studio.
Morris, who has been at Pixar for 21 years and served as president for the past 12, will continue to work on special projects, including executive producing 'Incredibles 3' and focusing on talent development and technology initiatives.
Garson, a 30-year veteran of Disney, has been with Pixar since 2010. He will report to Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Entertainment and Studios, and will partner closely with Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter.
Morris expressed his gratitude and excitement for the future, stating, 'Leading Pixar has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I’m honored to have been a steward of its legacy alongside extraordinary artists, storytellers, and technologists.'
Garson, in turn, expressed his honor and commitment to the role, saying, 'I am deeply honored to step into this new role alongside Pete, partnering with him and Jonathan to support our incredible filmmakers and artists.'
The transition comes as Pixar is coming off the success of 'Toy Story 5,' which earned over $1.1 billion at the global box office, ranking as the 10th-highest-grossing animated feature of all time.
Bergman praised Garson's extensive experience and dedication, noting, 'With a deep background at both Pixar and Disney, Jonathan Garson has proven to be an exceptional leader with a strong sense of what makes Pixar unique and how its storytelling comes to life in so many ways for fans.'
Jonas Rivera, who has been with Pixar since 1994, will also take on an expanded creative executive VP role, leading filmmakers and development and working closely with both Docter and Garson.
“I still remember seeing ‘Toy Story’ for the first time – never imagining I’d one day work at Pixar, let alone step into a leadership role such as this. Every day I walk in the door here, I’m reminded just how special this place is and how lucky I am to be a part of it. Jim has shown me what it looks like to safeguard this culture of quality, innovation, and creative ambition, and I’m extremely grateful to both him and Alan for their trust and support. It’s a humbling opportunity, and I look forward to working with Pete, Jonas, the production leadership team led by Katherine Sarafian and Lindsey Collins, and all of the extraordinary talent here at Pixar as we continue to push boundaries and lead our studio into the future.”
Background
An emeritus or emerita is an honorary title granted to someone who retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the in "professor emeritus". The term emeritus does not necessarily signify a person has relinquished all the duties of their former position.
What's confirmed
- “Having worked closely with Jim Morris for more than 20 years, I have enormous respect for his leadership and unwavering commitment to Pixar and its people,” said Bergman.
- “Ever since I walked through these doors as Pixar’s first production intern, this place, its people, and its stories have been my life’s work,” said Rivera.
- Looking ahead, I can’t think of anyone better than Jonathan to carry the legacy of this beloved studio forward.
- He’s a Pixar person through and through, a fierce champion of our films, our people, and our culture.
- “Leading Pixar has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I’m honored to have been a steward of its legacy alongside extraordinary artists, storytellers, and technologists who keep redefining what animation can do and expanding the art of cinema,” Morris said.
- He collaborated closely with Docter and Morris over the past 16 years, most recently serving as Pixar’s general manager after previously leading the marketing and franchise team.
What's still developing
- During his run, Pixar’s feature films have amassed north of $12B at the worldwide box office.
- Rivera started at Pixar in 1994 and has since worked on nearly every release, with his accolades including Oscar wins for Inside Out and Toy Story 4.
- Throughout Morris’ tenure, Pixar movies have surpassed $12 billion at the worldwide box office.
- Morris joined Pixar in 2005 after a long tenure at Lucasfilm and ILM, where he served as ILM’s general manager and later as president of Lucas Digital Ltd., overseeing visual effects work on dozens of landmark films.
- During Morris’ tenure, Pixar’s feature films have generated more than $12 billion at the global box office, continuing a legacy of critical acclaim and cultural relevance.