WHO WILL BE THE NEXT BOB IGER?

The Walt Disney Company is approaching a pivotal transition as it seeks to appoint a successor to CEO Bob Iger in early 2026. Disney's forthcoming leadership transition is a critical juncture that will shape the company's trajectory in a rapidly evolving broad entertainment landscape. Selecting a CEO with a balanced skill set and strategic vision is paramount for sustaining Disney's legacy of innovation and excellence in the entertainment field. This leadership change issue has been a critical one since Iger’s first departure and then the need to return became a necessary reality. One of the problematic issues upsetting the company applecart was the tumultuous (short-term) tenure of former CEO Bob Chapek. His time as CEO sent major shock waves through the organization at basically every juncture. Some of these agitating issues are still being managed by the company.

Moving forward, keep in mind that many of Disney’s current problematic issues stem from decisions made during Bob Iger’s multiple terms as chairman—a topic not too often discussed. Situations change, and some of Bob Iger’s early deals—such as Streaming (subscriber loss and profitability), ABC (shrinking ratings and revenues), and ESPN (declining cable subscriptions and rising sports rights costs)—initially seemed great at launch. However, shifts in consumer attitudes led to significant shortfalls in Disney’s original long-term plans for these programs.

Was it smart for Iger to return twice? I believe the answer is yes. His return seemed necessary due to the issues that arose during Chapek’s tenure, which led to significant internal upheaval and widespread external negative press across various company divisions. Two of the biggest problems were the fights that ensued between Disney and Florida’s Governor DeSantis based on wokeism, and the displacement of the Reedy Creek Improvement District program. These issues reached boiling points several times over the last several years and are still creating ripples for both parties.

These examples highlight just a few of the problematic issues that must be undertaken by a new CEO. One point I want to make today is that Bob Iger is seriously and vigorously ratcheting up his emphasis to focus on the future of the Disney Theme Parks. Make no mistake, the Disney Comcast / Universal war is raging at a level never before seen in the industry. There is no question that this emphasis is being stressed due to the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe.

With the above stated, let’s take a cursory look at the four people most often mentioned in consideration to replace Bob Iger. I have outlined some of each person’s strengths and weaknesses. In no particular order of preference, the discussed candidates are:

The ideal CEO candidate should possess a deep understanding of both traditional media and the countless emerging digital platforms. They must bring an innovative vision, anticipate different industry trends (with which Disney is involved), and accordingly be an adapter of dissimilar strategies. Additionally, they should have proven operational brilliance in managing broad and large-scale operations efficiently, plus (and as we have seen post Chapek) have a collaborative leadership style that fosters a broad cohesive internal corporate culture which inspires distinctive business teams.

While Disney has committed $30 billion USD for future Florida investments ($70 billion USD to all theme parks), there has been no official announcement regarding the development of a fifth theme park at the Walt Disney World property. To maintain Industry superiority and global dominance, Disney must develop a fifth gate. Disney last opened a theme park, Animal Kingdom, in 1998 -- 27 years ago. It is time to expand their number of gates to meet the growing Orlando tourist market demand, which is projected to pass 100 million in the next 5-7 years.

Disney is still the theme park industry leader. They have the “juice/gunpowder” to continue to maintain their 7-decade dominance in the global theme park expansion. With Bob Iger leaving shortly (and not returning again), the company must position itself for this continued strategic authority prior to his retirement. Iger well knows the future of the Disney company will continue to rely on the Theme Parks and movies to drive the lion’s share of the company’s growth. A fifth gate is necessary now.

Photos Source:  The Walt Disney Company

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