Film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur has resigned from the posts of the managing director and chief executive officer at Walt Disney Company India, reported IANS. Walt Disney International announced that former CEO Mahesh Samat will take on the role again as Kapur explores "his own business interests". Samat will take charge from November 28.

Chairperson of Walt Disney International Andy Bird told IANS, "Samat guided Disney in India in its early days, and we are thrilled with his decision to return to the organisation he helped build." Samat will coordinate Disney's businesses in India and oversee its global franchises. He will also be responsible for creating new opportunities.

Before Walt Disney, Samat worked with Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg's, Warner Lambert/Parke-Davis and Boots India Limited, reported The Hindu. Samat had left Disney India in 2012 to set up Epic Television Networks. The founder and managing director of the Epic Channel, he said he is thrilled to return to Disney. "We will accelerate the great work done by the team and create new, innovative ways for audiences to engage with our stories, brands and characters and drive growth across our businesses."

Chairperson Bird showered praise on Kapur. In an email to The Indian Express, he said, "Under his leadership since 2014, awareness and affinity for the Disney brand has increased substantially. The team released India's highest grossing movie of all time (PK) and India's highest grossing Hollywood movie of all time (The Jungle Book) and consolidated its position as the No.1 kids' television network in the country."