Fox execs already out after Disney deal

Anticipated layoffs have begun at Fox after the studio’s sale to Walt Disney Co. this week.

The initial cuts Thursday affected about two dozen people, most of whom are senior-level executives at the 20th Century Fox film studio lot in Century City, Calif., according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment. Termination notices started going out Thursday morning. The studio was part of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets until its acquisition by Disney was finalized this week.

Among those who lost their jobs is Chris Aronson, Fox’s president of domestic theatrical distribution who joined the studio in 2005. Others who are leaving the film studio include marketing president Pam Levine, international distribution head Andrew Cripps and domestic theatrical publicity head Heather Phillips. Marketing copresident Kevin Campbell, product strategy head Mike Dunn and chief content officer Tony Sella are departing as well.

More than 3,000 people, mostly at Fox, are expected to lose their jobs as Disney determines how it will integrate the companies, according to people familiar with the situation. Many of those jobs are in Los Angeles.

Some of those cuts were expected to come this week, but the bulk will probably occur over the next weeks and months.