This week Disney announced that Tom Staggs, chief operating officer of The Walt Disney Company, would be stepping down from his pivotal role. Disney sees major players change jobs within the organization all the time – sometimes even switching key positions entirely – but this exit is monumental.

Staggs had been viewed as the probable successor to CEO Bob Iger, to retire from the Mouse House’s top spot in 2018. What Staggs’ departure from Disney means for the company requires examination.