Disney Irish
Premium Member
Well either way we may soon find out as it appears that talks have progressed to the point of insiders talking about an announcement as soon as next week.
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Disney's Parks Chief Emerges as Contender to Succeed Iger
- Thread starter TROR
- Start date
Well either way we may soon find out as it appears that talks have progressed to the point of insiders talking about an announcement as soon as next week.
Darkbeer1
Well-Known Member
Here is another look, from the Wall Street Journal, a News Corp. publication.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/behind...ks-scale-price-and-family-dynamics-1512521082
>>James Murdoch has embraced—and even propelled—the idea of doing the deal, according to people familiar with his thinking. If a deal happens with Disney, James could wind up going to Disney in a senior role, setting him up as a potential candidate to succeed Mr. Iger, who has said he plans to retire in 2019, people close to the deal talks say.
Mr. Murdoch would be up against other succession contenders with long Disney tenures. Disney hasn’t promised any job to James Murdoch.
The people close to James say he also could use some of his proceeds from a sale to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. Mr. Murdoch once founded a hip-hop record label and is interested in technology, music and advertising.
“He has always talked about having an appetite for change rather than reacting to change,” one person close to James says.<<
https://www.wsj.com/articles/behind...ks-scale-price-and-family-dynamics-1512521082
>>James Murdoch has embraced—and even propelled—the idea of doing the deal, according to people familiar with his thinking. If a deal happens with Disney, James could wind up going to Disney in a senior role, setting him up as a potential candidate to succeed Mr. Iger, who has said he plans to retire in 2019, people close to the deal talks say.
Mr. Murdoch would be up against other succession contenders with long Disney tenures. Disney hasn’t promised any job to James Murdoch.
The people close to James say he also could use some of his proceeds from a sale to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. Mr. Murdoch once founded a hip-hop record label and is interested in technology, music and advertising.
“He has always talked about having an appetite for change rather than reacting to change,” one person close to James says.<<
Disney Irish
Premium Member
The last point is important. In my personal opinion, if he doesn't stay with Fox/News Corp I think he is more likely to do that than assume the role of CEO at TWDC.
Additionally just because a deal gets done doesn't mean the BoD has to name him CEO. They can still go internal to find the next CEO.
Darkbeer1
Well-Known Member
But deal making includes stipulations, and Fox can ask for the CEO opening when it opens up, it has been done in many mergers, plus the CEO has to be approved by the board and its shareholders, in which the Murdoch's would be the major shareholder of the company.
So it might happen, we will just have to wait to see who wins in the bidding war for Fox, Comcast/NBC/Universal is still in the picture, and what the actual deal was. But offering the CEO to Fox would be an extra inticement to pick Disney.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
I think we are putting the cart before the horse here a little bit. Even if the Murdoch family ends up being the largest shareholder, which I'm still in doubt they would be the largest, they don't own enough to just automatically install anyone as CEO. I think the only stipulation put on the deal would be a consideration for CEO once the position opens up, its not automatic appointment.
What would Murdoch as CEO really even mean? Would he put any major focus on the parks, creating new original attractions? Would he pump out more sequels for Walt Disney Animation Studios films? Would he add more IPs into the parks than are currently being added? Or maybe he'd treat the parks like how Knott's and Six Flags are run with just bare steel coasters placed everywhere?
SSG
Well-Known Member
I'm a dope at business but why would whoever takes over deviate from Iger's very financially successful path? I doubt the board would stand for it.
Darkbeer1
Well-Known Member
Who knows, sounds like the son would be more into the movie/TV end of things. Only time will tell.
Hatbox Ghostbuster
Well-Known Member
Let's just fast forward to the reality where this merger/takeover/greed-grab doesn't happen and we just go back to our normal lives...please?
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
SSG
Well-Known Member
I'll sign it.
Hatbox Ghostbuster
Well-Known Member
Yo corporate...
D
Deleted member 107043
Nothing out of the ordinary for the Parks probably, but looking at their some of their news media outlets (which Disney isn’t negotiating for, thank God) I’d be concerned if I was a journalist at ABC News.
TROR is reporting Iger will extend his tenure as CEO if the deal with Fox doesn't go through.
Do you suppose Brian Ross is worried about being forced to compromise his journalistic integrity or something?
Disney Irish
Premium Member
Which would make sense given the time it would take to complete the merger and post-acquisition activities. And then they can groom a new CEO out of a larger pool of candidates from all the recently acquired companies including Fox.
So as of now that means James is not automatically going to be CEO if the merger happens.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
Well get used to more discussion because it looks like its moving forward.
FoozieBear
Well-Known Member
As a lifelong die-hard Disney fan, I cannot understand how there are Disney fans who are cheering on this sort of merger. Can't imagine what this would do to whatever is left of 'the Disney brand'.