# Pixar Names Jonathan Garson President As Jim Morris Steps Down > Pixar Animation Studios is naming Jonathan Garson as its new president, while longtime leader Jim Morris transitions to a president emeritus role starting January 4, 2027. - Publisher: Briefzora (https://briefzora.com) - URL: https://briefzora.com/pixar-names-jonathan-garson-president-as-jim-morris-steps-down - Published: 2026-11-05T05:45:00+05:00 - Author: Briefzora Desk (https://briefzora.com/author/briefzora-desk) - Section: Technology - Topics: Pixar - Image: https://briefzora.com/uploads/2026/11/pixar-names-jonathan-garson-as-president-jim-morris-moves-to-emeritus-qphcff.webp ## Key points - Jonathan Garson is becoming the new president of Pixar Animation Studios. - Jim Morris is transitioning to a president emeritus role after 12 years as president. - The leadership changes take effect on January 4, 2027. - Alan Bergman announced the leadership transition on Wednesday. - Jonas Rivera is stepping into an expanded creative executive VP role. ## Why it matters The leadership change at Pixar affects the studio's operational future, creative direction, and upcoming theatrical releases like Incredibles 3 under parent company Disney. ## Article Pixar Animation Studios is set to undergo a leadership change as Jonathan Garson takes over as president, partnering with Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter. After serving as president for 12 of his 21 years at the studio, Jim Morris will transition to a president emeritus role effective Jan. 4, 2027, following an announcement made by Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Entertainment and Studios at The Walt Disney Company, on Wednesday. In his new role as president, Garson will oversee all production and operations for Pixar, which most recently released the billion-dollar hit "Toy Story 5," and has the original animated films "Gatto" and "Ghost Market" upcoming, including its producers, department heads, and post-production. As president emeritus, Morris will continue as executive producer of "Incredibles 3," slated for a June 2028 theatrical release, while focusing more broadly on talent development, mentoring across Pixar and Walt Disney Studios, and technology initiatives to support storytellers and artists. Garson and Morris will both report to Alan Bergman, who announced the leadership changes on Wednesday. "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," Bergman said in a statement. "He's not only a tremendous partner in business but a great friend. As we prepare for his eventual retirement, this transition will ensure a smooth succession for the team." Garson, Bergman said, has "proven to be an exceptional leader with a strong sense of what makes Pixar unique and how its storytelling comes to life in so many ways for fans, and Pete Docter and I are excited for him to step into this role." Bergman also announced that Jonas Rivera will step into an expanded creative executive VP role, leading filmmakers and development and working closely with both Docter and Garson. "Jonas Rivera brings a wealth of creative expertise that will serve the team well as he works even more closely with Pete," Bergman concluded. Morris joined Pixar in 2005 after a long tenure at Lucasfilm and ILM, where he served as ILM's general manager and later as president of Lucas Digital Ltd., overseeing visual effects work on dozens of landmark films. He was named president in 2014, succeeding the studio's first president, Ed Catmull, and during his tenure, Pixar's feature films have generated more than $12 billion at the global box office, continuing a legacy of critical acclaim and cultural relevance. "Leading Pixar has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I'm honored to have been a steward of its legacy alongside extraordinary artists, storytellers, and technologists who keep redefining what animation can do and expanding the art of cinema," Morris stated. "After 52 years in the business, and almost 40 at Lucasfilm and Pixar, I'll be stepping back from the day-to-day, but I'm thrilled to move into handling a number of special projects, working alongside my friends Pete, Jonathan, and Jonas at Pixar, and of course Alan Bergman, who has been such a supporter of Pixar throughout the years." Morris continued: "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. Pixar is in very good hands." Garson has been with Disney for more than 30 years and joined Pixar in 2010, working closely with Docter and Morris while most recently serving as Pixar's general manager and previously leading its marketing and franchise team. "I still remember seeing 'Toy Story' for the first time - never imagining I'd one day work at Pixar, let alone step into a leadership role such as this," Garson stated. "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." "Jim has shown me what it looks like to safeguard this culture of quality, innovation, and creative ambition, and I'm extremely grateful to both him and Alan for their trust and support," he continued. "It's a humbling opportunity, and I look forward to working with Pete, Jonas, the production leadership team led by Katherine Sarafian and Lindsey Collins, and all of the extraordinary talent here at Pixar as we continue to push boundaries and lead our studio into the future." Rivera's history with Pixar dates back to 1994, and since then, he has worked on almost every Pixar release, winning Oscars for "Inside Out" and "Toy Story 4"; earning a best picture nomination for "Up," his first feature as producer; and executive producing "Inside Out 2," the studio's biggest global hit and one of the biggest animated films in history. "Ever since I walked through these doors as Pixar's first production intern, this place, its people, and its stories have been my life's work," Rivera stated. "I am deeply honored to step into this new role alongside Pete, partnering with him and Jonathan to support our incredible filmmakers and artists. Jim has been an extraordinary mentor and leader, and I intend to build on the lessons I learned from him as we look toward our next chapter." ## Background on Pixar Animation Studios and The Walt Disney Company Pixar Animation Studios operates as an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio serves as a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company and has transformed the motion picture industry through computer-generated imagery. Originally founded in 1979 as the Graphics Group, a part of the computer division of Lucasfilm, the organization was later acquired by Steve Jobs in 1986 following financing from him after the release of Star Wars and other projects. The studio released the world's first computer-animated feature film, Toy Story, in 1995, which changed the trajectory of the medium and established a long-standing partnership with Walt Disney Pictures. Over the decades, the studio developed proprietary rendering software such as RenderMan and produced numerous critically acclaimed box office successes. The Walt Disney Company acquired Pixar in 2006 in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $7.4 billion. Following the acquisition, key figures like Ed Catmull and John Lasseter assumed leadership roles, guiding the company through its golden era of sequels and original storytelling. The studio is known for fostering a collaborative creative environment often referred to as the Braintrust, where directors, writers, and artists critique each other's work constructively. This framework helped generate iconic franchises including Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Up, and Inside Out, cementing the brand as a cultural touchstone in modern entertainment. ## History of Jim Morris and Lucasfilm Leadership Jim Morris built a distinguished career in visual effects and animation management spanning over five decades. Before joining Pixar in 2005, he spent extensive time at Industrial Light and Magic and Lucas Digital Ltd., where he managed visual effects production for numerous cinematic milestones. During his time under George Lucas, he oversaw operations for Lucasfilm's digital division, contributing to major technological advancements in digital compositing and computer graphics. His entry into Pixar marked a bridge between the pioneering visual effects era of Lucasfilm and the character-driven animation style of Pixar. Under his presidential tenure starting in 2014, Pixar navigated shifting consumer habits, the rise of streaming platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, and theatrical distribution models. His leadership emphasized maintaining high artistic standards while expanding the studio's technical capabilities. With his transition to president emeritus, he will continue guiding mentorship programs across the broader Walt Disney Studios ecosystem, ensuring that younger generations of artists and technologists receive institutional guidance from industry veterans. ## Future Projects and Leadership Continuity The structural reorganization aligns with an ambitious upcoming slate for the animation house. Jonathan Garson steps into the presidency as the studio prepares for the releases of original films like Gatto and Ghost Market. Meanwhile, veteran producer Jonas Rivera steps into an expanded creative executive vice president role to work alongside Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter. Rivera's extensive history with the company includes producing foundational hits and steering development cycles for upcoming features. Leadership continuity remains a central focus for parent company executive Alan Bergman as these transitions take effect. By pairing Garson's operational and marketing expertise with Docter's creative direction, the organization aims to sustain its financial and critical momentum. The upcoming slate includes high-profile sequels such as Incredibles 3, which is scheduled for theatrical release in June 2028, ensuring that the studio maintains a steady pipeline of content for global audiences. ## Frequently asked questions ### Who is the new president of Pixar? Jonathan Garson is becoming the new president of Pixar Animation Studios, partnering with Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter. ### When do the Pixar leadership changes take effect? The leadership changes announced by Alan Bergman become effective on January 4, 2027. ### What role is Jim Morris moving into? Jim Morris is transitioning to a president emeritus role where he will focus on talent development, mentoring, and executive producing Incredibles 3. --- When citing, please link to https://briefzora.com/pixar-names-jonathan-garson-president-as-jim-morris-steps-down and name Briefzora as the source.