Disney’s Alan Horn to Retire

14 Oct 2021

Disney’s Alan Horn to Retire

Re: Alan Horn (MBA 1971)

Topics: Career-Retirement Business Ventures-Business Growth and Maturation Leadership-Leading Change

Photo by Andrew Macpherson

Longtime Disney studio head Alan Horn (MBA 1971) announced this week that he is set to retire at the end of this year.

Holding the official title chief creative officer of Disney Studios Content, his deep impact on the company was highlighted by the New York Times. “The growth at Disney’s movie division under his tenure was jaw-dropping,” the paper notes. “In 2012, Disney-distributed movies collected about $3.3 billion at the global box office. In 2019, the studio generated $9 billion in ticket sales.”

“It has been my great privilege and pleasure to be able to spend these past 50 years helping creative people tell stories that move, entertain, and connect audiences around the world—and a dream come true to have the chance to do it at Disney, no less,” Horn said in a statement.

Horn was named an HBS Alumni Achievement Award recipient in 2016. A profile written of Horn for the occasion notes that he is distinct in his field.

Hollywood can be a cutthroat world, and many successful people leave a wake of damage, but Alan Horn is not one of them. Former and current colleagues are in awe of his talent, his demeanor, and his thoughtful approach to people and problems. “Alan is a real rarity in our business,” says [longtime collaborator] Rob Reiner. “He’s a nice guy who finishes first.”

Alan Horn

MBA 1971

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Alan Horn

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