Mark Parker to Be Named Chairman of the Walt Disney Company

DCBaker

Premium Member
Original Poster
From the press release -

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) Board of Directors announced that it has elected independent director Mark G. Parker as Chairman of the Board, effective following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Parker, a seven-year member of the Disney Board and Executive Chairman of NIKE, Inc., will succeed Susan E. Arnold, who will not stand for re-election pursuant to the 15-year term limit under Disney’s Board Tenure Policy. As a result, the size of the Board will be reduced to 11 members.

“Mark Parker is an incredibly well-respected leader who over seven years as a Disney director has helped the Company effectively navigate through a time of unprecedented change,” Ms. Arnold said. “During his four decades at NIKE, Mark has led one of the world’s most recognized consumer brands through various market evolutions and a successful CEO transition, and he is uniquely positioned to chair the Disney Board during this period of transformation.”

“Mark Parker’s vision, incredible depth of experience and wise counsel have been invaluable to Disney, and I look forward to continuing working with him in his new role, along with our other directors, as we chart the future course for this amazing company,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “On behalf of my fellow Board members and the entire Disney management team, I also want to thank Susan for her superb leadership as Chairman and for her tireless work over the past 15 years as an exemplary steward of the Disney brand.”

Said Mr. Parker: “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Disney’s Chairman, and I look forward to working closely with Bob and his management team on a strategy of growth that balances investment with profitability, while preserving Disney’s core mission of creative excellence, to deliver shareholder value. At the same time, it is the top priority of mine and the Board’s to identify and prepare a successful CEO successor, and that process has already begun.”

Mr. Parker will also chair a newly created Succession Planning Committee of the Board, which will advise the Board on CEO succession planning, including review of internal and external candidates. Mr. Parker served as NIKE’s Chairman and CEO until 2020, when he became Executive Chairman.

The Walt Disney Company Board has continued to evolve to ensure it has the right combination of backgrounds, skill sets and perspectives to guide the Company into the future. Today, Disney’s directors bring experience across a relevant range of disciplines, including brand, marketing and retail, direct-to-consumer expertise, and technology and innovation.

The Board is nominating for re-election at the Company’s Annual Meeting incumbent directors Mary T. Barra, Safra A. Catz, Amy L. Chang, Francis A. deSouza, Carolyn Everson, Michael B.G. Froman, Robert A. Iger, Maria Elena Lagomasino, Calvin R. McDonald, Mark G. Parker and Derica W. Rice.

Board Responds to Trian Partners Nomination by Recommending Shareholders vote for all of the Company’s Nominees

Trian Partners L.P. and Trian Partners Parallel Fund I, L.P., wholly owned subsidiaries of Trian Fund Management, L.P., along with other entities affiliated with Nelson Peltz (collectively, the “Trian Group”), have nominated Nelson Peltz for election as director at the Annual Meeting in opposition to the nominees recommended by the Board, and brought a proposal to amend Disney’s Bylaws.

The Walt Disney Company remains open to constructive engagement and ideas that help drive shareholder value. While senior leadership of The Walt Disney Company and its Board of Directors have engaged with Mr. Peltz numerous times over the last few months, the Board does not endorse the Trian Group nominee, and recommends that shareholders not support its nominee, and instead vote FOR all the Company’s nominees (noted above).

The Walt Disney Company has had a long-term track record of financial and creative success, built on the ability to leverage its rich intellectual property and unparalleled storytelling across its many businesses, from theatrical, streaming and linear broadcast to parks and resorts, and one of the most resonant names in sports, ESPN. Mr. Iger’s mandate is to use his two-year term and depth of experience in the industry to adapt the business model for the shifting media landscape, rebalancing investment with revenue opportunity while bringing a renewed focus on the creative talent that has made The Walt Disney Company the envy of the industry. Mr. Iger has already taken decisive steps to realign content creation and distribution, and reposition Disney’s streaming platforms and linear broadcast and cable networks for enhanced profitability for the Company.

Under Mr. Iger’s first tenure as CEO from September 2005 through February 2020, the Company’s total shareholder return was 554%, which exceeded the S&P 500 total shareholder return of 244%. The company’s market capitalization grew nearly fivefold during his tenure from $48 billion to over $230 billion.

The Board of The Walt Disney Company has been continually refreshed, with a focus on directors whose industry experience is additive to the company’s strategic priorities. The average tenure of the current Board is four years, with three directors serving fewer than two years, and in addition the Board is led by an independent chairman.

The Company expects to file preliminary materials with respect to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders shortly and looks forward to communicating with its stockholders once definitive proxy materials are available. The date of the Annual Meeting has not yet been announced.

 

flynnibus

Premium Member
Man... the churn is fresh with DIS.... I said before the problem with BobC goes back to the board.. so now the new guy gets focus as chairman with a wildly powerful CEO. This should be fun to watch...

Whose the real puppet master here?
 

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Man... the churn is fresh with DIS.... I said before the problem with BobC goes back to the board.. so now the new guy gets focus as chairman with a wildly powerful CEO. This should be fun to watch...

Whose the real puppet master here?
Susan Arnold left because of a term limitation. They didn't add anyone new. Since Susan was Chair, they voted for one of their own Board Members to be Chair.

There is no churn here.
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
Susan Arnold left because of a term limitation. They didn't add anyone new. Since Susan was Chair, they voted for one of their own Board Members to be Chair.

There is no churn here.

Uhhmmm... you think she just realized her limit was up now? And no one had any thought of this before recruiting BI back? And that the nomination for chairman was just some simple 'ok, whos turn is it?'

Come on... we're talking the board of a 150+BILLION dollar company.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Uhhmmm... you think she just realized her limit was up now? And no one had any thought of this before recruiting BI back? And that the nomination for chairman was just some simple 'ok, whos turn is it?'

Come on... we're talking the board of a 150+BILLION dollar company.
The same voices that said that Iger quit after news dump with no transition period - effective immediately…are gonna peddle this Arnold stuff too.

Remember: nothing ever done by anyone in a name tag has ever NOT been 100% planned…and genius
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Man... the churn is fresh with DIS.... I said before the problem with BobC goes back to the board.. so now the new guy gets focus as chairman with a wildly powerful CEO. This should be fun to watch...

Whose the real puppet master here?
Iger is the conspirator and coward from the go…for going on 2 decades. It was Roy…then Bob filled in the niche he successfully carved out…

But Bob has some guys who aren’t “his boys” in palm beach gunning for him now

Much more formidable than staggs, rasulo, and slapphead.

The optimist in me hopes that maybe this is JUST to get rid of Iger…and then things can normalize

Not much chance of that though.
 

GimpYancIent

Well-Known Member
From the press release -

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) Board of Directors announced that it has elected independent director Mark G. Parker as Chairman of the Board, effective following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Parker, a seven-year member of the Disney Board and Executive Chairman of NIKE, Inc., will succeed Susan E. Arnold, who will not stand for re-election pursuant to the 15-year term limit under Disney’s Board Tenure Policy. As a result, the size of the Board will be reduced to 11 members.

“Mark Parker is an incredibly well-respected leader who over seven years as a Disney director has helped the Company effectively navigate through a time of unprecedented change,” Ms. Arnold said. “During his four decades at NIKE, Mark has led one of the world’s most recognized consumer brands through various market evolutions and a successful CEO transition, and he is uniquely positioned to chair the Disney Board during this period of transformation.”

“Mark Parker’s vision, incredible depth of experience and wise counsel have been invaluable to Disney, and I look forward to continuing working with him in his new role, along with our other directors, as we chart the future course for this amazing company,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “On behalf of my fellow Board members and the entire Disney management team, I also want to thank Susan for her superb leadership as Chairman and for her tireless work over the past 15 years as an exemplary steward of the Disney brand.”

Said Mr. Parker: “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Disney’s Chairman, and I look forward to working closely with Bob and his management team on a strategy of growth that balances investment with profitability, while preserving Disney’s core mission of creative excellence, to deliver shareholder value. At the same time, it is the top priority of mine and the Board’s to identify and prepare a successful CEO successor, and that process has already begun.”

Mr. Parker will also chair a newly created Succession Planning Committee of the Board, which will advise the Board on CEO succession planning, including review of internal and external candidates. Mr. Parker served as NIKE’s Chairman and CEO until 2020, when he became Executive Chairman.

The Walt Disney Company Board has continued to evolve to ensure it has the right combination of backgrounds, skill sets and perspectives to guide the Company into the future. Today, Disney’s directors bring experience across a relevant range of disciplines, including brand, marketing and retail, direct-to-consumer expertise, and technology and innovation.

The Board is nominating for re-election at the Company’s Annual Meeting incumbent directors Mary T. Barra, Safra A. Catz, Amy L. Chang, Francis A. deSouza, Carolyn Everson, Michael B.G. Froman, Robert A. Iger, Maria Elena Lagomasino, Calvin R. McDonald, Mark G. Parker and Derica W. Rice.

Board Responds to Trian Partners Nomination by Recommending Shareholders vote for all of the Company’s Nominees

Trian Partners L.P. and Trian Partners Parallel Fund I, L.P., wholly owned subsidiaries of Trian Fund Management, L.P., along with other entities affiliated with Nelson Peltz (collectively, the “Trian Group”), have nominated Nelson Peltz for election as director at the Annual Meeting in opposition to the nominees recommended by the Board, and brought a proposal to amend Disney’s Bylaws.

The Walt Disney Company remains open to constructive engagement and ideas that help drive shareholder value. While senior leadership of The Walt Disney Company and its Board of Directors have engaged with Mr. Peltz numerous times over the last few months, the Board does not endorse the Trian Group nominee, and recommends that shareholders not support its nominee, and instead vote FOR all the Company’s nominees (noted above).

The Walt Disney Company has had a long-term track record of financial and creative success, built on the ability to leverage its rich intellectual property and unparalleled storytelling across its many businesses, from theatrical, streaming and linear broadcast to parks and resorts, and one of the most resonant names in sports, ESPN. Mr. Iger’s mandate is to use his two-year term and depth of experience in the industry to adapt the business model for the shifting media landscape, rebalancing investment with revenue opportunity while bringing a renewed focus on the creative talent that has made The Walt Disney Company the envy of the industry. Mr. Iger has already taken decisive steps to realign content creation and distribution, and reposition Disney’s streaming platforms and linear broadcast and cable networks for enhanced profitability for the Company.

Under Mr. Iger’s first tenure as CEO from September 2005 through February 2020, the Company’s total shareholder return was 554%, which exceeded the S&P 500 total shareholder return of 244%. The company’s market capitalization grew nearly fivefold during his tenure from $48 billion to over $230 billion.

The Board of The Walt Disney Company has been continually refreshed, with a focus on directors whose industry experience is additive to the company’s strategic priorities. The average tenure of the current Board is four years, with three directors serving fewer than two years, and in addition the Board is led by an independent chairman.

The Company expects to file preliminary materials with respect to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders shortly and looks forward to communicating with its stockholders once definitive proxy materials are available. The date of the Annual Meeting has not yet been announced.

Interesting. Nike! Hmmmmmm isn't their slogan "Just Do It"?
 

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Uhhmmm... you think she just realized her limit was up now? And no one had any thought of this before recruiting BI back? And that the nomination for chairman was just some simple 'ok, whos turn is it?'

Come on... we're talking the board of a 150+BILLION dollar company.
She was going to have to resign anyway in 2 months.

Given Peltz's "reason" for wanting a seat on the BoD, it made sense for her to leave immediately so that Parker can step up to CotB and Chair of the Succession Committee. See, Peltz, we're already on top of the succession thing!

But, you're original point was "churn" which means a revolving door type of personnel. Except for Bob-to-Bob-to-Bob, there is nothing else churny happening on the BoD.
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
But, you're original point was "churn" which means a revolving door type of personnel. Except for Bob-to-Bob-to-Bob, there is nothing else churny happening on the BoD.

No - churn means the turnover of people leaving in a short period. You have the two highest positions in the business LEAVING within weeks of each other… combined with no communication about this plan. Add in that the new ceo is temporary and expected to cycle out within a short amount of time. That’s three CEOs and two chairman in a short period. Add in that the prior chairman had only been in the role for 2 years herself.

So yeah, disney facing huge churn in it’s executive leadership in a relatively short period. Three ceo changes… three chairman changes…
 

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