Bob Iger previously led Disney as CEO from 2005 to 2020. He continued to act as chairman for Disney until December 31, 2021. Now, however, the unexpected has happened. It turns out that current Disney CEO Bob Chapek will be stepping down from his role, and Bob Iger will once again be stepping in as CEO of the company.
Susan Arnold, chairman of the board, released a statement on the matter via THR. While they “thank Bob Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career,” which they note included “navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” it appears that they feel “Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the Company through this pivotal period.” This “pivotal period” referring to “an increasingly complex period of industry transformation.”
Bob Iger himself expressed his excitement to return to the position in an email to Disney employees. He specifically wrote that he will be returning “with an incredible sense of gratitude and humility — and, I must admit, a bit of amazement.” Of course, while Bob Iger is returning to his old role as CEO of Disney, it will only be temporary. Specifically, Iger will only be serving as CEO for the next two years.
They’ve explained that Iger “has agreed to serve as Disney’s CEO for two years, with a mandate from the Board to set the strategic direction for renewed growth and to work closely with the Board in developing a successor to lead the Company at the completion of his term,” as stated by the board. Of course, with Chapek no longer being Iger’s successor, it remains to be seen who will receive the title.
As stated above, however, Bob Chapek did do great work during the pandemic. He helped increase the popularity of Disney Plus and pushed more of their efforts towards streaming. Of course, as THR notes, there have been “controversies and distractions” throughout his tenure. This includes the lawsuit Scarlett Johansson filed against Disney over Black Widow, Disney’s delayed response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and his own statements that animation isn’t for adults.
Bob Iger previously became notable for his acquisitions under Disney that included Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox. Whatever Disney has planned for the next two years, Iger is certainly going to do their job and do it well.