NY Times: Bob Iger Effectively Back As CEO

[the.dreamfinder]

Since the Barron’s article last week, it appears this NY Times piece by Ben Smith confirms that Iger is going to be taking back more of his old responsibilities.

Just don’t call him CEO.

Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He’s Fighting for Disney’s Life. (Published 2020)

The former C.E.O. thought he was riding into the sunset. Now he’s reasserting control and reimagining Disney as a company with fewer employees and more thermometers.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Mouse Trap]

Since the Barron’s article last week, it appears this NY Times piece by Ben Smith confirms that Iger is going to be taking back more of his old responsibilities.

Just don’t call him CEO.

Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He’s Fighting for Disney’s Life. (Published 2020)

The former C.E.O. thought he was riding into the sunset. Now he’s reasserting control and reimagining Disney as a company with fewer employees and more thermometers.

www.nytimes.com

The “fewer employees” bit is something Disney has desperately needed for years on the corporate side. Having worked with Disney on a few things, the amount of people they get involved on sometimes trivial projects is obscene and much more than any other company I’ve done business with.

It sucks people will lose jobs because of this, but Disney has been bloated with redundant positions for a decade now.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

My favorite part of the article.

(A Disney spokeswoman declined to make Mr. Chapek available for an interview.)

 

[SoCalMort]

The elegant beauty of understatement:

"...Then, they flew back to Los Angeles and on the way, said a person familiar with their conversation, they discussed the depth of the crisis. Mr. Iger made clear that he would remain closely involved."

 

[DisneyJayL]

I picked a heck of a day to stop drinking.

 

[alphac2005]

Since the Barron’s article last week, it appears this NY Times piece by Ben Smith confirms that Iger is going to be taking back more of his old responsibilities.

Just don’t call him CEO.

Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He’s Fighting for Disney’s Life. (Published 2020)

The former C.E.O. thought he was riding into the sunset. Now he’s reasserting control and reimagining Disney as a company with fewer employees and more thermometers.

www.nytimes.com

When I read the Barron’s piece, it seemed pretty clear just by its mere publication that Iger was sending a message to the market that he was in-charge and you’re right on, the NYT seals the deal here.

As much as many of us abhor Chapek’s decisions at the parks, to say he was being thrown to the wolves is kind. If they can turn this around, Iger then gets to leave with that final chapter being written as a savior and he becomes the kingmaker for the next CEO, who most likely will not be Chappie.

 

[bryanfze55]

My favorite part of the article.

Poor Chapek lol

 

[Josh Hendy]

Tried to tap dance out of the company just ahead of the tsunami with a hasty two-step ... now the Board of Directors and largest shareholders are clinging to palm trees saying, "Whoa whoa, Mr. Bojangles where you off to?"

But seriously: there was probably some kind of headhunting search going on for the next CEO but it was taking far too long as these things usually do. Iger heard a (not so) far-off rumble and sent out a memo ... "For my next impression ... Jesse Owens!"

Like the doc said the virus dictates the schedule not us.

 

[lazyboy97o]

This just makes Iger’s retirement more suspicious. Clearly Chapek does not have the Board’s confidence and Iger is not yet willing to let go.

 

[cmarten]

"For my next impression ... Jesse Owens!"

Amazing movie

 

[cmarten]

So Iger who is not the CEO is taking over not CEO duties from Chapek who is the CEO but not really the CEO

 

[Animaniac93-98]

If we find out a month from now that Chapek has been dead this whole time it would not surprise me.

I can't imagine a more invisible CEO for one of the world's biggest companies.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

So Iger who is not the CEO is taking over not CEO duties from Chapek who is the CEO but not really the CEO

CEO = Clearly Expendable Option

 

[wdwfan22]

Hopefully this means Iger will remain in control.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Losing 30 million a day! And borrowed 6 billion!? Wow.

 

[wdwfan22]

Why? He hasn't really done much for the parks other than mandate unnecessary IP integration that the imagineers at best sometimes make it work (Ex: Pandora) and at worst are forced to destroy park sightlines (Epcot).

There is more to the Walt Disney Company beside Theme Parks. I think he had done a stellar job at running the company.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Like create a monopoly instead of developing content of their own?

He’s more likable than Chapek.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

If they can turn this around, Iger then gets to leave with that final chapter being written as a savior and he becomes the kingmaker for the next CEO, who most likely will not be Chappie.

This just makes Iger’s retirement more suspicious. Clearly Chapek does not have the Board’s confidence and Iger is not yet willing to let go.

Someone wants to rewrite the narrative that leads to an image like this.

 

[Josh Hendy]

If we find out a month from now that Chapek has been dead this whole time it would not surprise me.

LMAO ... Weekend at Chappies

Two hapless CP newbs have to somehow keep him alive in order to secure the $6B in bond financing before Mr. Big and his Wall St. gangster buddies find out and bump them off ... onto permanent furlough.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Someone wants to rewrite the narrative that leads to an image like this.
View attachment 463135

That image sure would look great in a Presidential campaign attack ad against Bob.