Disney film group president Zoradi resigns

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mark Zoradi, who as president of the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group handled worldwide marketing and distribution of films, resigned on Monday after 29 years at the company, the studio said.

Zoradi's resignation comes amid a shake-up at the Walt Disney Co's movie studio, as long-time chairman Dick Cook's abrupt departure in September was followed in October by Cook's replacement with television executive Rich Ross, who until then headed Disney Channels Worldwide.

Also last month Daniel Battsek, who ran Disney's low-budget Miramax Films, also left after the company slashed the unit's workforce and curtailed the number of films it would release.

Zoradi is a long-time associate of Cook, who said when he left that he no longer felt he fit in at the company.

A Disney spokeswoman declined to elaborate on why Zoradi resigned, and in a letter to his staff Zoradi also gave no reason for his departure.

The departure of Cook and Zoradi coincides with Disney's efforts to absorb Marvel Entertainment, which it recently agreed to acquire. Marvel has become a movie powerhouse with its blockbuster "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" franchises.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Carol Bishopric)