One of the highest-ranking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officers at The Walt Disney Corporation announced that she is leaving her post after six years with the company.
As the Daily Caller reports, Latondra Newton announced on Wednesday via an internal memo, later leaked to the press, that she will be leaving Disney to join another company and “pursue other endeavors.” Disney is already searching for new applicants to fill the position, with human resources executive Julie Merges set to temporarily take on her responsibilities until a permanent replacement is found.
Newton described herself as committed to “ensuring every person sees themselves and their life experiences represented in a meaningful and authentic way.”
Newton’s bio on the company website said that she saw the company partner “with various business segments and leaders across the enterprise to build on Disney’s commitment to produce entertainment that reflects a global audience and sustains a welcoming and inclusive workplace for everyone.”
“Ms. Newton has been recognized as a forward-thinking and progressive leader in business and diversity and inclusion throughout her career,” the bio continues.
Disney has faced numerous financial setbacks in recent years, with many of its recent movies falling below expectations at the box office; one of the most recent films in the once-highly-acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” failed to break even, with a gross of just $476 million against a $200 million budget. Most recently, the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” which controversially cast a black actress in the lead role, has also become a box office bomb, grossing roughly $470 million against a budget of $250 million.
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