AVIV IN, JACOBSON OUT AT DISNEY CHANGE COMES AS FIRM CUTS JOBS.

Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

In a stunning shake-up of top executives at The Walt Disney Studios, marketing chief Oren Aviv was promoted to president of production while longtime production head Nina Jacobson was fired, the studio said in a series of surprise announcements late Tuesday.

The change in production heads comes as Disney dramatically cuts down on the number of feature films it will release each year -- to about a dozen -- and prepares to reduce its worldwide work force by about 650 positions.

``Cutbacks such as these are difficult on so many levels, and we will do everything in our power to make the transition as smooth as possible,'' Dick Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios said in a statement.

Cook made the announcements as Disney is enjoying its strongest summer in three years with the box office successes of ``Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'' and ``Cars.'' The studio, which has already released 11 movies in the first six months of 2006, will produce and distribute about 10 Disney live-action and animated movies per year and two or three films from its Touchstone label.

``Disney is the No. 1 name in filmed entertainment around the world,'' Cook said. ``It's the name on the door, it's what we do best, and when we do it right, not only do moviegoers of all ages benefit from the finest in quality entertainment, but it lifts the entire company as well. The depth and breath of great Disney movies range from ``Pirates of the Caribbean'' to ``Cars'' to ``The Chronicles of Narnia,'' and we look to expand our global reach even more.''

While Disney has enjoyed major success in the past eight months with ``Pirates,'' ``Cars'' and ``Narnia,'' it has also seen many of its films bomb or under-perform at the box office, including ``Annapolis,'' ``The Wild,'' ``The Shaggy Dog,'' ``Stick It'' and ``Goal! The Dream Begins.''

In his new role, Aviv, a 15-year studio veteran, will oversee the live- action development and film production for the studio.

``Oren is an amazing talent and has been a key player in reshaping our Disney films with many, many successes,'' Cook said. ``In fact, `National Treasure' was a winning, original idea which he conceived and realized on film. In his new role, we look forward to capitalizing on his great taste as well as his creative vision.''

Of Jacobson, who had been with the studio since 1998, Cook simply said: ``(She) will be leaving the company, and while she will certainly be missed, we greatly appreciate her many contributions and wish her well.''

In another strategic move, the studio has restructured several of its business units under two global organizations 7/8 Buena Vista Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment. Mark Zoradi was appointed president of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, overseeing the distribution and marketing of all Disney and Touchstone Pictures films worldwide. Robert Chapek was promoted to president of Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment and will oversee the worldwide distribution and marketing of all the studio's films on home entertainment platforms.

``Mark is a consummate professional who along with his team has had unprecedented success in the international marketplace with 12 consecutive years surpassing the $1 billion dollar mark. No other distributor has crossed this performance threshold,'' Cook said. Replacing Aviv as head of marketingwill be Jim Gallagher, who most recently was senior vice president of creative marketing for the marketing division.

Not affected by the shake-up are Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar Studios, Miramax Films, Buena Vista Music Group and Buena Vista Theatrical Productions.

greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) AVIV

(2 -- color) JACOBSON