Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, has his eye on retirement again. This comes as Iger has a contract that is set to expire in 2026 and is part of the search for his successor. This is viewed as his most important task since returning to Disney as CEO in November 2022.
“I think it would be safe to assume that I think about this all the time. I could say that I’m obsessed with it would be probably an understatement and actually, the board and I established when I returned that that would be among our biggest, if not our biggest priority,” he told SiriusXM’s Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa.
This is the second time that Iger and Disney is searching for a successor. Initially, Bob Iger passed the torch to Bob Chapek. Chapek led the company during the height of the pandemic from the spring of 2020 through 2022. For half of this, Iger stayed on as the Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman. He officially retired at the end of 2021. In less than a year, he would be back to clean up the mess that Bob Chapek created while in the CEO role. Now, Iger finds himself not only putting Disney on the right path, but also finding and setting up a successor for success.
“It’s actually something that I’m obviously very focused on, not just because of the past, but because I’d like to retire again and I’d like to leave the company in great hands, and that is my intention,” Iger added. “I’m now confident that not only will we do that, but we’ll do so on a timely basis that works for the company and hopefully works for me as well, but yes. It’s a huge priority.”
There are four internal candidates at The Walt Disney Company who are seen as possible successors. They include Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
At this point, Disney has not revealed a timeline for when the next CEO will be picked and announced. It is generally thought that it will be well before the end of Iger’s contract in 2026 that can help facilitate a smooth transition. The full interview can be heard here:
What do you think about Iger’s retirement and who do you think should be his successor? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
