• Los Angeles Times, Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:35 AM

Jim Gallagher has been pushed out as head of marketing at Walt Disney Studios, a victim of a broad overhaul of the business by new chairman Rich Ross. Dawn C. Chmielewski and Ben Fritz report that a new marketing chief, yet to be announced, will report directly to Ross and have a broad mandate, including live-action movies, animated films and home entertainment.

The studio has been shedding executives since the ousting of former chairman Dick Cook in September, including Mark Zoradi, who oversaw worldwide marketing and distribution, on Monday. The departure of Zoradi and Gallagher suggests that Ross and Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger have been dissatisfied with recent marketing efforts. One example is a six-month, whistle-stop train tour for "A Christmas Carol" that has apparently bombed.

Among other appointments yesterday, Home Entertainment president Bob Chapek was named president of distribution, a new post in which he will oversee all outlets for Disney movies, including theaters, DVD, pay television and new media.

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