Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Refute…oh “insider”
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News Bob Iger is back! Chapek is out!!
- Thread starter Disney4family
- Start date
_caleb
Well-Known Member
You cannot possibly know that the timing of Iger’s retirement was due to his fear of the pandemic’s effects on the business.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and speculation but none of us here know what really happened.
Some here are buying the narrative that Iger was 100% responsible for Chapek- we have no idea how much say Iger had in that decision.
This latest article makes it sound like Iger never liked Chapek for the job at all. It’s just a bunch of speculation.
britain
Well-Known Member
Explains the whole “Let’s talk blue sky because we have no idea what will be greenlit or by whom!” presentation at D23.
GhostHost1000
Premium Member
Exactly. If you think about it, it was a brilliant plan by Iger. Create a mess, add in Covid, select an incompetent CEO, and then point the finger at Chapek for all, pretend to come back ready to save the day from the bed he mostly made himself.
bcoachable
Well-Known Member
Seeing articles such as this recent one, I’m asking those who know- is Zenia back on the payroll? Possibly even secretively? Honest question…
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Iger's "retirement" perfectly coincided with Covid's explosion in the US and was announced mere days after Shanghai Disneyland was shut down. The idea that the timing was unrelated and coincidental is absolutely absurd. It's the most blatant "rat abandoning a sinking ship" you will ever see.
As for Chapek, early on most people here seemed to figure he was being set up to fail and wouldn't last long. That belief was only briefly challenged when the board renewed his contract earlier this year, but it ended up being accurate in the end. And with a bit of hindsight, there's a certain degree of clarity for why they probably renewed his contract. Keeping this internal turmoil quiet was a useful means of preventing an even more catastrophic stock collapse, it also ensured Chapek was in the dark and would be blindsided by such a move so he wouldn't be able to cause trouble in the transition back to Iger.
Iger's retirement has also been floated for years before Covid hit, but it wasn't really focused on until he finally abruptly announced his departure. Before that, he had ritualistically destroyed every single person who was being floated as a potential successor to him. It happened with Rasulo and Staggs. And now it happened with Chapek. Iger has an enormous ego, and I don't think he's particularly eager to groom an actual replacement. He prefers to sabotage them and play pretend savior.
As for Chapek, early on most people here seemed to figure he was being set up to fail and wouldn't last long. That belief was only briefly challenged when the board renewed his contract earlier this year, but it ended up being accurate in the end. And with a bit of hindsight, there's a certain degree of clarity for why they probably renewed his contract. Keeping this internal turmoil quiet was a useful means of preventing an even more catastrophic stock collapse, it also ensured Chapek was in the dark and would be blindsided by such a move so he wouldn't be able to cause trouble in the transition back to Iger.
Iger's retirement has also been floated for years before Covid hit, but it wasn't really focused on until he finally abruptly announced his departure. Before that, he had ritualistically destroyed every single person who was being floated as a potential successor to him. It happened with Rasulo and Staggs. And now it happened with Chapek. Iger has an enormous ego, and I don't think he's particularly eager to groom an actual replacement. He prefers to sabotage them and play pretend savior.
Vegas Disney Fan
Well-Known Member
I typed out, and immediately deleted, a similar reply to avoid the fray.
Sir Walters theory is as likely as anyones but it’s 100% conjecture, not a fact.
Other than Iger, his family, and the board none of us has a clue if our theories about Iger leaving are right or wrong, and it’s likely a bit of all our theories... but none of us can state any of our theories are fact.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I know nothing…
But here’s a timeline for you
By the admission of former senior us officials…the government was aware of the potential threat/spread potential of sars Covid 19 no LATER than December 2019…
Which means business knew 6 minutes later
Iger announces “retirement effective immediately” after news dump on February 26,2020. Not a peep about transition.
The United States, nato and the Far East industrial centers were in lockdown on 3/16/2020.
Iger then “comes back” when stock market doesn’t crash and spends a year trying to lean on Arnold and the Board
Sherlock Holmes would tell you NOT to believe in such “coincidences”
Do the math. Global lockdown and disruption should have tanked the financial system. Bob couldn’t stomach that after 6 years of “legacy building” (after 10 years of gouging and suck)
And even if you can’t follow the events from a practical standpoint…Iger never had a successor…he had a yutz.
And that’s iger’s fault
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
It’s not only “possible”…but highly likely that they all suck
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Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
…follow the breadcrumbs
The problem with Disney fans is that they only believe a yutz in a name tag at a podium…and are under the ridiculously false assertion that they can’t lie.
So conjecture? Yes.
Does they events lead to reasonable conclusion to serious people?
You decide.
The Woman Behind the Mouse
Disney has thrived under the leadership of chief financial officer Christine McCarthy ’77. But her career and life haven’t always been a fairy tale.
www.smith.edu
The Woman Behind the Mouse
Disney has thrived under the leadership of chief financial officer Christine McCarthy ’77. But her career and life haven’t always been a fairy tale.
This is a great read. She has lived quite a life so far.
I wouldn't doubt this woman's abilities, at all.
Yes,...I suppose that we can almost all agree that Chapek was a terrible CEO. However..I would also agrue that Disney's current severe problems began years before Chapek became CEO. Disney has been damaging and hurting and chipping away at it's brand bit by bit for the last 10 years.
It took 100 years for the company to build it's "halo" and consumer goodwill and trust. It's going to take a lot of hard work to get it back.
In the future....there is a lot that Disney needs to do...and a lot they need to undo.
It took 100 years for the company to build it's "halo" and consumer goodwill and trust. It's going to take a lot of hard work to get it back.
In the future....there is a lot that Disney needs to do...and a lot they need to undo.
Vegas Disney Fan
Well-Known Member
Even if every indicator points a certain way that doesn’t make it a fact.
As I said your theory is as likely as anyone’s, had you not added the last line alluding to it being a fact I’d have no problem with any of your post, but the reality is it’s absolutely NOT a fact, it’s an educated guess.
_caleb
Well-Known Member
Your narrative fills in between actual facts with soap opera-level drama. To make your story (that you’ve repeated many times in this thread) work:
- Iger alone would have to determine the timing of his retirement. But it doesn’t seem likely that the board would have brought him back if there was bad blood for leaving them in the lurch just as the pandemic broke out.
- Iger alone “hand” picked Chapek. As though the board had no say, and as if Iger was free to choose anyone in the world to succeed him as CEO.
- Iger ran the company with an iron fist prior to his first retirement (since you keep saying Chapek’s blunders were entirely Iger’s). But Execs, WDI, and CMs are celebrating Iger’s return.
- Iger gets all the blame for everything wrong with Disney, and none of the credit for anything good.
I’m willing to think Iger’s concern about his own legacy might lead him to come back with a very different perspective than he had before.
I don't "think" Iger planned it this way per se. I do think Iger wanted out as covid hit so he could leave at the top as an inevitable downturn was occurring.
BUT - Iger DID handpick Chapek AND Iger was (and is) on the board AND Iger maintained creative control up until this last year.
So what, exactly, has Iger changed from Chapek's current business practices?
Park RSVPs are still in effect.
Park ticket prices are still increasing.
No changes to the movie/TV slate.
Annual passes haven't come back...
If Chapek was doing everything so badly in the business then why has the 'business' not changed?
Vegas Disney Fan
Well-Known Member
He hasn’t even been back a month, it takes time to implement change.
I doubt he’ll reverse course on most of the unpopular changes but I’m still hopeful he’ll modify them to make them a bit more customer friendly.
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Bob Iger has held the power to immediately enact ANY of the following policies the exact moment he returned-
- Improve basic daily/nightly park maintenance and cleanliness
- Get rid of park reservations
- Remove paid Genie+
- Lower prices on tickets/merch/food/etc
Park reservations are the only complaint Iger even responded to. He also didn't answer, saying he's never used them (you don't say) and knows nothing about them, but he'd talk to D'Amaro about it (that means no for those who aren't fluent in BS corporate speak). Maintenance cuts and price hikes have been Iger's bread and butter at WDW LONG before Chapek held any sort of power over the parks. The monetization of Genie+ has also been a long term plan all the way back when "nextgen" was being developed. It makes them money, they're not getting rid of it.
Iger isn't going to fix these complaints, nor does he warrant any sort of "time" to prove this. He could have done so at any moment if he wanted. We've had years of experience to see how he views and treats the parks and guests. It wasn't any different than Chapek. There are no unknowns. If anything, things are going to get even worse. The parks always take the bullet whenever there are losses and failures to be covered for elsewhere in the company.
- Improve basic daily/nightly park maintenance and cleanliness
- Get rid of park reservations
- Remove paid Genie+
- Lower prices on tickets/merch/food/etc
Park reservations are the only complaint Iger even responded to. He also didn't answer, saying he's never used them (you don't say) and knows nothing about them, but he'd talk to D'Amaro about it (that means no for those who aren't fluent in BS corporate speak). Maintenance cuts and price hikes have been Iger's bread and butter at WDW LONG before Chapek held any sort of power over the parks. The monetization of Genie+ has also been a long term plan all the way back when "nextgen" was being developed. It makes them money, they're not getting rid of it.
Iger isn't going to fix these complaints, nor does he warrant any sort of "time" to prove this. He could have done so at any moment if he wanted. We've had years of experience to see how he views and treats the parks and guests. It wasn't any different than Chapek. There are no unknowns. If anything, things are going to get even worse. The parks always take the bullet whenever there are losses and failures to be covered for elsewhere in the company.
Chapek's biggest sin was speaking the truth out loud, like admitting the need to reduce food portion sizes to control costs. Sometimes you say it best while saying nothing at all -- don't give away the game. Chapek also didn't know how to smoothly handle the Florida political situation, or the backlash to the changes that were implemented. Part of the role of CEO is to smooze and talk BS. These are all examples of his incompetence.
Leadership can sometimes be an illusion; Chapek didn't inspire the troops, Iger apparently does. If Iger wanted to change anything, he has the support of the board and the power to do so. As long as the new price structures at the parks make bank, he's not going to rock the boat. The big fix will have to be within the animation departments and Disney+, which are suffering.
Leadership can sometimes be an illusion; Chapek didn't inspire the troops, Iger apparently does. If Iger wanted to change anything, he has the support of the board and the power to do so. As long as the new price structures at the parks make bank, he's not going to rock the boat. The big fix will have to be within the animation departments and Disney+, which are suffering.
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
I don't understand why people think Bob is out there running the day to day operations of the parks. They are making money, they are packed and that is all he needs to know for now. Rebuilding relationships with government and creatives to get the next tentpole out to help prop up D+ and legislators looking in other directions are his focus not if you have to get up at 7am for your ressie or to pick what ride you want to "do" for the 100th time.
He will show for Tron opening as it is a good photo op and a major spend but latter that day he won't be changing the prices on the menu boards because they are too high in his opinion.