Pixar Names Franchise Executive Garson President
Vendors and partners tied to Pixar's release slate should plan around a franchise-focused leader taking over on January 4, 2027.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People
Pixar has named Jonathan Garson president effective January 4, 2027, succeeding Jim Morris, who moves to president emeritus after 21 years at the studio. Jonas Rivera has been elevated to executive vice president of creative, and Pete Docter remains chief creative officer.
Why it matters
Leadership transitions at a major studio signal how a long-running creative and production pipeline will be managed, which matters to vendors, talent agents and partners who depend on predictable greenlight and release schedules. Garson's background in franchise and product management at Disney points to a stronger emphasis on franchise economics as the studio's slate depends increasingly on sequels.
Morris's 21-year run includes 12 years as president, while Garson brings 16 years of Disney experience before joining Pixar in 2010. Recent box office benchmarks include Hoppers at roughly $400 million worldwide and Toy Story 5 at about $1.14 billion globally.
The players
Pixar
Pixar is the Emeryville, California animation studio owned by Disney, known for franchises such as Toy Story and The Incredibles and for a strong box office record.
Jonathan Garson
Jonathan Garson is a studio executive with 16 years at Disney and a background in franchise and product management, joining Pixar in 2010 and becoming its president in 2027.
Jim Morris
Jim Morris spent 21 years at Pixar, including 12 years as president, and moves to president emeritus while staying involved in the studio's slate and talent development.
Jonas Rivera
Jonas Rivera is a Pixar producer who previously served as executive vice president of production and has been elevated to executive vice president of creative.
Pete Docter
Pete Docter is Pixar's chief creative officer and a veteran director of the studio's animated features.
The details
Pixar announced the changes alongside Garson's appointment, with Garson becoming president effective January 4, 2027. Garson previously served as senior vice president of worldwide marketing and franchise at Pixar and as vice president of franchise and product management at The Walt Disney Studios. Morris will continue to be involved in Pixar's slate, talent development, mentorship and technology initiatives in his emeritus role.
Timeline
2010: Garson joins Pixar.
January 4, 2027: Garson becomes Pixar president.
March 5, 2027: Gatto is scheduled for release.
June 16, 2028: Incredibles 3 is scheduled for release.
Market Landscape
Pixar's leadership change arrives as Toy Story 5 posted about $1.14 billion globally, underscoring how franchise sequels anchor the studio's results. The succession places a franchise and marketing executive at the top as Gatto, Ghost Market and Incredibles 3 populate the release calendar through 2028.
Operators in production services, licensing and marketing should track whether Garson's franchise background changes how Pixar approaches sequel development and partner promotion. Vendors tied to the studio's release calendar should plan around the 2027 transition and the 2028 Incredibles 3 release.
The takeaway
Franchise economics appear to be a central factor in Pixar's leadership direction, so businesses that supply or market to the studio should watch how the 2027 transition affects its release priorities. Calendar the January 4, 2027 leadership change and the 2028 Incredibles 3 release as checkpoints when reviewing vendor and partner plans.
What happens next
Garson becomes Pixar president on January 4, 2027, and Gatto is scheduled for release on March 5, 2027.
Further reading
For more on who runs major studios and how leadership shifts reshape creative pipelines, explore People coverage in our business section.
