It’s been just over a year since Bob Iger returned to The Walt Disney Company as CEO.
©Disney
When he returned, he made it clear that his leadership within the company wouldn’t last forever. However, he did promise that he would be involved in the search and training of his successor — the person who would take over as CEO after Bob Iger’s (updated) contract ends in 2026. Bob Iger’s successor is a major concern not only for Disney fans, but for company stakeholders and investors in The Walt Disney brand. Well, media executives are now chiming in with their predictions for who they think the successor could be.
After speaking with 13 former and current media executives, CNBC reported their predictions for Iger’s successor. The executives chose to remain anonymous, but these three predictions still captured our interest. Let’s talk about it!
Prediction #1: Iger will extend his contract.
Whew! One executive shared that they believe that Iger will extend his contract past 2026, despite his claims that he would walk away from the company “forever” once his contract ended. However, we’re not sure whether or not we should put all our faith in that statement, as Iger has extended his contract as CEO five different times.
©MasterClass
And yes, in 2021, when he was passing on the baton to Bob Chapek, he declared he was done for good, too. We see how that went! The executive who predicted that Iger will once again extend his contract said, “Fool me five times, shame on me.” They also went on to say that Iger is the one person who has the ability to understand and lead the company with a steady hand.
Prediction #2: Dana Walden will succeed Iger.
Dana Walden currently serves as the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment. Many (and not just this executive) believe that Iger will choose Walden as his successor before he moves back into a chairman role — just like he did when Chapek took over in 2020.
©Disney
The executive shared that they believe the announcement that Walden will take over will come in late 2024, even though reports in September stated that the successor would probably be announced in 2025 so that the upcoming CEO has ample time to prepare.
Prediction #3: Disney will buy Cable Media and Kevin Mayer will take over as CEO.
Kevin Mayer, who once worked as the Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer and International segment, stepped down in May of 2020 as Rebecca Campbell was given control over the role. He went on to become the CEO of TikTok and then the CEO of privately-held Candle Media.
Bryan van der Beek | Bloomberg | Getty Images
We learned that Mayer recently advised Disney as far as the future of the legacy TV business, and he’s also been mentioned before as a potential successor.
Well, there you have it! We’ll just have to wait and see what actually happens. Make sure to follow along for more so that you’re always in the loop.
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Interesting that Josh D’Armaro’s name didn’t come up. As chairman of the most profitable arm of Disney, I would think he would at least merit some conversation.
I don’t care who it is as long as they do SOMETHING to get Disney back to the company Walt made!!!
Bob Iger did a poor job of choosing Chapek (financial person) as his replacement. Does Disney corp really want to give him the choice AGAIN on who will be his replacement? Choosing a cable media person is again having someone who is only focused on one portion of the business. If Disney is going to choose a person strong in one field – it should be imagineer! Imagination skills are needed in all of Disney’s departments.
Disney has alienated so much of its customer base, particularly through poor choices in the entertainment venue. Disheartening that the person that has apparently overseen that alienation could now be put in charge of the entire company! Senseless.
Lots of great comments on this subject already!
Chapek was the single worse CEO in Disney history, so I don’t think this is a decision that should be solely left up to Iger, and, most likely, it will not be.
The next CEO has to be first and foremost a creative type, because that is the heart and soul of Disney. In my mind, this person is Josh D’Amaro, and I don’t care that he lacks experience in a few of the other Disney-owned companies, because he gets the entertainment and customer experience aspect, and that is what Disney is all about.
Kevin Mayer should not even be a consideration, because his track record shows that he will jump ship in a second for the next big opportunity… no loyalty whatsoever.
I don’t believe Walden would be a horrible choice, but Disney’s streaming services needs someone with her background to get that part of the company back on track. Also, speaking of experience in the company, all she has ever done is entertainment media, so she actually has less experience than D’Amaro.
At the end of the day, however, my money is on Iger extending his contract.
Whoever it is they better get the company focused on making a product Wald Disney would endorse and stop the WOKE BS.
In addition, Disney isn’t friendly to spontaneity, it requires TOO Much Preplanning, almost as bad as going to the Moon to go to Disney today. We started going back in 1996 and could wake up in the morning and head to Disney from Minneapolis and have a Great weekend or week, Now it required reservations for everything including the kitchen sink and it all had to be done six months out. I can go to Europe or Asia or on a Cruise with way less planning and see the real thing and experience rides through REAL Environments with incredible REAL food for 50% less. Wake Up, Disney!
I concur where does Josh D. fit into this scenario.
I don’t understand the need from outside speculation. Granted, in business you need some lead time. But I feel that that time is better spent on dealing with who is actually named. Not who it might be. That’s a lot of brain power being wasted on a “it never happened” scenario. Plus I think it needlessly panics some people on the “what ifs”.
And everyone back in the day thought Michael Einser was terrible. He got cheap with the Wescot idea, but he didn’t want to change the company’s heart and soul just to virtue signal.
Ron DeSantis will be the next CEO.
Whoever they pick, it can’t come soon enough. I hope the person they choose actually cares about costumers they enjoy the parks. You can’t keep taking away “extras” that were included in the price of admission, then make you pay more to use said “extras”. You also can’t raising the price of everything every other day, but not making things better. They also need new movie ideas that everyone one can enjoy, and not to try to push an agenda. Disney has always been inclusive of everyone and there never was a problem with. But lately they keep pushing inclusiveness and that’s actually leaving a bad taste in people’s mouths. And please don’t come after me about my comments or opinions , I don’t care to hear. Disney just needs new blood at the top that can bring respect back to Disney and their costumers. Don’t get me wrong, the cast members in the parks do an amazing job at keeping the magic alive. It’s the people at the top that couldn’t care less about the magic, and more about the money and the minority voices feelings. Bob Iger is not that person.
As long as it’s no one on the Board. The entire Board needs to go, including Iger. They are all responsible for killing the Disney magic.