The next Disney CEO shortlist has been revealed as the brand tries to find a successor for Bob Iger. Bob Iger originally left in 2020, but returned briefly in 2022 and has officially announced he’s stepping down as CEO in 2026.
Iger stated he left voluntarily as it was time for new leadership and fresh perspectives for the Disney brand. When he first stepped down, Bob Chapek replaced him, but Chapek and Iger butted heads, leading to Iger returning to the role. Iger is rumored to want to stay until 2028 to rebuild his legacy, but the facts remain unclear.
In a report by Bloomberg, Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger’s successor is closer to being found. Disney has four potential candidates for the new CEO: Josh D’Amaro, Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, and Jimmy Piatro. These candidates are expected to begin early next year.
Bob Iger’s Replacement Race Is Nearly Over
Disney’s process for finding a new CEO is being led by Chairman James Gorman. One candidate in particular is certainly making an impression on the brand. Josh D’Amaro’s Experiences division has been Disney’s most successful and includes theme parks and cruise ships. The profits rose to $8.12 billion, which is substantially more than Disney’s Entertainment division.
D’Amaro’s takeover isn’t coming as a shock to many due to his ever-growing appearances, including standing alongside Iger and Mickey Mouse celebrating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, as well as attending movie premieres.
Another close contender is entertainment co-chair Dana Walden. Walden mainly focused on the TV side of Disney. she played a key role in ensuring Jimmy Kimmel was suspended and taken off the air over remarks he made regarding Charlie Kirk’s killer.
Our Take On Iger’s Departure
Disney has been a titan in the entertainment industry for decades. Bob Iger has played a key part as CEO in ensuring Disney is not forgotten. Iger became the CEO in 2005 and oversaw countless acquisitions, including Pixar, Marvel, 21st Century Fox, and Lucasfilm, and helped launch Disney+.
Under Iger’s guidance, Disney became a media powerhouse. However, having fresh perspectives for the ever-evolving brand that is Disney isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Due to the endless streaming content available, Disney can’t become complacent.
Having someone new in charge could lead to even more groundbreaking changes and potentially an improvement to Disney’s current entertainment portfolio, apart from endless live-action remakes.
Source: Bloomberg