Warner's High-Def Disc Guru Exits Post

In the week's latest high-def stunner, Warner Home Video's next-gen guru Steve Nickerson has announced he will step down.

A senior vp at Warner, Nickerson was arguably the most visible executive in the high-def disc space, and a passionate cheerleader for the studio's dual-format stance.

Coming only days after Paramount (the only other dual-format supporting studio) announced that it would back HD DVD exclusively, news of Nickerson's exit is already raising a few eyebrows, with speculation swirling that perhaps Warner is also considering changing its format-neutral stance.

For the record, an article in Friday's Hollywood Reporter states that Nickerson is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities that will be announced shortly.

"While it's hard to leave a company like Warner Bros., I have appreciated the opportunities that I have been given here and, especially, the chance to work with so many great people," said Nickerson.

(Thanks to Jason for the tip!)