Disney CFO, Parks chief to swap roles

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two of Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) top executives, Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs and parks chairman Jay Rasulo, will swap jobs at the end of 2009 to give each new challenges, Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said on Thursday.

Staggs has served as Disney CFO for more than a decade, presiding over acquisitions of Capital Cities/ABC and Pixar and the pending purchase of Marvel Entertainment Inc (MVL.N).

Rasulo assumed the role of parks and resorts chairman in 2000, overseeing a major expansion of Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim and of Hong Kong Disneyland, and led negotiations with the Chinese government for a new Shanghai theme park.

Both will continue to report to Iger, who replaced Dick Cook, the longtime head of Disney Studios, last month.

Iger said in a statement the management swap gives Rasulo and Staggs "exciting new challenges that build on both their strengths at a time when each of their respective areas are on the right strategic track."

"The change is good for them and good for the company," Iger said.

Disney is set to report its quarterly results on Thursday afternoon.

(Reporting by Gina Keating, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)