Sanford "Sandy" Litvack, who was appointed vice chairman of the Walt Disney Co. in September of last year, announced Thursday that he will leave the company at the end of the year.

Although in announcing Litvack's appointment, Disney chief Michael Eisner indicated that Litvack had usually been his right-hand man, analysts noted Thursday that Litvack's departure would probably have little impact on the company.

He may, however, have loomed large in the company's decision to challenge the AOL-Time Warner merger; he was once an assistant U.S. attorney general in charge of antitrust prosecutions. He will continue to advise the company on legal and governmental affairs, the company said.

Source: Studio Briefing