Disney Unit Is Expected to Unveil Management Shuffle

The long-awaited realignment in the executive ranks of Walt Disney Co.’s film unit is expected to be unveiled as early as next week, with the fate of some executives still unclear.

The most prominent is Chris McGurk, president of Walt Disney Motion Picture Group, who earlier this month was being rumored to move up to the No. 2 slot behind Walt Disney Studios Chairman Joe Roth.

Sources predicted Thursday that McGurk is likely to move out of his current job, but probably stay with Disney in some capacity. However, McGurk may have other options. A former Pepsi executive, he is a protege of recently named Pepsi Chief Executive Roger Enrico, who is known to have tried to lure McGurk back to Pepsi.

Separately, longtime distribution executive Richard Cook is expected to be elevated to a new post, most likely the top spot at the motion picture unit under Roth. Others said to be in line for bigger responsibilities are Walt Disney Pictures President David Vogel and Touchstone Pictures President Donald DeLine. Likely to leave the company altogether is Hollywood Pictures President Michael Lynton, a former publishing executive who is expected to return to that business.

* Steve Elzer was promoted to vice president of corporate publicity at New Line Cinema.

* Alan Sokol has left Savoy Pictures to join Sony Pictures Entertainment as senior vice president of corporate development.

* Andre Caraco was promoted to vice president of publicity at Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures.

* Jeffrey Orridge has joined Warner Bros. Consumer Products as director of its new Warner Bros. Sports Licensing division.

* At Eyemark Entertainment, Robb Dalton has been named senior vice president of business and program development, and Brooke Karzen has been named director of programming.

* Tony Shepherd has been named director of television development for XLCR Productions.

* Pete Rosenblum has been appointed national director of college and alternative promotion for Elektra Entertainment Group.