Disney Chief Diversity Officer Latondra Newton is leaving the giant entertainment firm after six years in her role.
An internal memo revealed to other employees that Newton is parting ways with the studio.
Disney Chief Diversity Officer Latondra Newton Exits
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: (L-R) Latondra Newton, Marc Brown, and Jennifer Cohen speak onstage during the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Los Angeles Red Carpet Community Screening at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on November 09, 2022.
As per an exclusive report by Variety, the Disney chief diversity officer, Newton, who also sits as the studio's senior vice president, is leaving her role, an internal memo seen by the news outlet disclosed.
The Disney human resource chief Sonia Coleman told Disney employees that Newton "has decided to leave The Walt Disney Company." Her internal memo shared that the six-year chief diversity officer plans to "pursue other endeavors."
The media conglomerate is still searching for a replacement after Newton's departure. In the meantime, the team under her will now be reporting to Julie Merges.
Variety notes that a source privy to the matters disclosed that Newton is set to join a corporate board of an undisclosed firm. On top of that, the Disney senior vice president intends to dedicate more time to her creative company.
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Who is Latondra Newton?
Fans are reflected in Disney+ logo during the Walt Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, California on September 9, 2022.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Newton joined the ranks of Disney in 2017 amid the growing efforts of the industry to expand the representation on and off the screen. Before her tenure at Disney, she sat as Toyota Motor North America's vice president of social innovation and chief diversity officer. She joined the Japanese carmaker way back in 1991.
Newton spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives that transformed Disney into a beacon of diversity. She championed the representation of marginalized communities, ensuring that Disney's content reflected the multifaceted tapestry of the world. By pushing for inclusive storytelling, Newton opened doors for underrepresented voices and narratives long overdue in the industry.
As Deadline.com reports, Disney says Newton is responsible for pushing "Disney's commitment to [producing] entertainment that reflects a global audience and sustains a welcoming and inclusive workplace for everyone."
The internal memo announcing her departure states that she "has led the company's strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives."
It is worth noting that Newton co-signed a memo last May 2020, alongside Disney top brass Bob Iger and Bob Chapek, amidst the controversy surrounding the killing of George Floyd.
Newton's departure comes shortly after the Disney boss announced that its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Christine McCarthy is exiting the media conglomerate. McCarthy has been with the studio for roughly two decades. She explains that she is taking a family medical leave.
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