A 'magical' ride comes to an end: Dennis Hightower leaves Disney to advance higher education.

Dennis F. Hightower, the highest-ranking African American at the Walt Disney Co., left the Magic Kingdom last month. His "planned early retirement," as it was described by Disney, leaves the $10 billion entertainment conglomerate with little African American influence at the top.

Word of Hightower's retirement came as a shock to many, but others suspect Disney's need to restructure after last year's $19 billion megamerger with Capital Cities/ABC may have, helped the former president of Walt Disney Television and Telecommunication make his decision. Some cited his perceived lack of television experience and the glut of seasoned television executives absorbed from its network partner. "Following the merger there was a heavy influx of talent at Disney, and it probably led to some duplication," says Jill Krutick, a media analyst at Smith Barney in New York. Such duplication, says Krutick, most likely left Hightower the odd man out.

During his career at Disney, Hightower is credited with expanding the company's presence abroad. Joe Roth, Disney's former motion picture group chairman, replaces Hightower. As chairman of the revamped Walt Disney Studios, Roth, a former CBS executive, assumes added responsibility for Disney's network television production, television animation, worldwide home video and interactive media ventures, which had been Hightower's turf. His other responsibilities for the Disney Channel international, TV syndication and pay TV were picked up by Cap Cities/ABC President Robert Iger.

In an April release announcing his retirement, Hightower stated that Disney officials had "known for some time of my intention to leave corporate life at age 55." Among other things, he said that he wanted to increase his involvement with Harvard Business School and Howard University, where he earned his M.B.A. and bachelor's degrees. He also maintains he was not forced out, adding, "with this retirement package, I won't have to work another day in my life."

According to Disney officials, Hightower will continue as an international business consultant to the corporation for at least the next year. Disney Chairman and CEO Michael D. Eisner said he was "disappointed that Dennis has decided to leave," acknowledging that Hightower had made enormous contributions to Disney's growth."

When BE interviewed him last December, he gave no hint that he was planning to retire. "What Eisner wants me to do," he said at the time, "is to create a real opportunity for Disney in this new technological environment over the next few years."