Jim Morris's move to President Emeritus marks the culmination of an illustrious career at Pixar, which he joined in 2005. As the studio's second president, following Ed Catmull, Morris has overseen a period of immense success, with Pixar's feature films collectively grossing over $12 billion worldwide during his tenure. While stepping back from day-to-day operations, Morris will remain actively involved in several key areas. He is set to continue as an Executive Producer on the highly anticipated Incredibles 3, slated for release in June 2028. Additionally, he will dedicate his expertise to talent development and mentoring across Pixar and the broader Walt Disney studio, alongside focusing on technological initiatives aimed at empowering the company's storytellers and artists.
His departure from the presidential role is a carefully planned transition, not linked to the larger workforce reductions and buyout offers Disney has recently implemented. Disney Entertainment Studios Chairman, Alan Bergman, lauded Morris's contributions, stating, "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." Morris himself expressed confidence in his successor, remarking, "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."
Jonathan Garson brings over three decades of experience within Disney, with 16 of those years spent working closely with Pixar's leadership, filmmakers, and creative teams. Having joined Pixar in 2010, he most recently served as the studio's general manager and previously led its marketing and franchise division. As the new President, Garson will assume oversight of all production and operational aspects for Pixar, including its producers, department heads, and post-production, working in close partnership with Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter.
Garson shared his enthusiasm for the new role, reflecting, "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." Both Garson and Morris will report directly to Alan Bergman, maintaining the existing reporting structure where the Pixar President reports to the Disney Entertainment Studios Chairman.
Further bolstering Pixar's leadership, Jonas Rivera will step into an expanded role as Creative Executive Vice President. Rivera, whose history with Pixar dates back to 1994 as the studio's first production intern, has contributed to nearly every Pixar release. His impressive resume includes Oscar wins for Inside Out and Toy Story 4, a Best Picture nomination for producing Up, and executive producing the global blockbuster Inside Out 2. In his new capacity, Rivera will dedicate his full attention to the creative oversight of Pixar's films, collaborating with Docter and overseeing the studio's directors, creative vice presidents, and development, casting, and content advisement departments. He and Docter will also serve as executive producers on every Pixar film.
While these leadership changes unfold, Pete Docter will continue to guide the creative vision for the studio behind hits like Toy Story and Inside Out as Chief Creative Officer. Pixar's upcoming slate includes two original animated films, Gatto, set for March 5, 2027, and Ghost Market, arriving March 10, 2028, leading up to Incredibles 3 in June 2028.