News The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors Extends Robert A. Iger’s Contract as CEO Through 2026

[Tha Realest]

Funny you should ask:

Is Iger calling in favors from recent Disney Legends?

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

All of these endorsements, including from people such as George Lucas who have previously been scathing in their criticism of Iger, should paint a pretty clear picture of how much worse Peltz and his cronies would be.

To reiterate- Bob Iger IS a horrible leader. Peltz is somehow 100x worse.

 

[Brian]

All of these endorsements, including from people such as George Lucas who have previously been scathing in their criticism of Iger, should paint a pretty clear picture of how much worse Peltz and his cronies would be.

To reiterate- Bob Iger IS a horrible leader. Peltz is somehow 100x worse.

**This is purely speculation.**

Doesn't it stand to reason that these endorsements at least may be part of a larger influence campaign by the company? Get all these noteworthy people (Lucas, Gad, Abigail Disney, and more to come) to come out in support of Iger, and in exchange, they get a big fat check, or other preferential treatment (a Disney Legends award, perhaps).

Sounds conspiratorial, I know. But it would be no different than paying off social media influencers (through cash, free passes or other perks) to come to the parks and rave about the latest cupcake offering.

 

[WoundedDreamer]

All of these endorsements, including from people such as George Lucas who have previously been scathing in their criticism of Iger, should paint a pretty clear picture of how much worse Peltz and his cronies would be.

To reiterate- Bob Iger IS a horrible leader. Peltz is somehow 100x worse.

What are you talking about? Bob Iger is an excellent leader! Bob Iger is Disney's "creative North Star." He's been doing things for The Walt Disney Company that, "are unprecedented since the days of Walt Disney." Bob Iger "is a once-in-a-generation leader with an ambitious vision for the future." Iger knows, "exactly what he is doing." Iger, "knows the media and entertainment business cold and has the successful track record to prove it."


A vote for Peltz, "is playing not only with fire but earthquakes and hurricanes as well." Peltz only is doing this proxy battle because, "wants to be on the coattails of greatness." Personally, "I don’t know why shareholders would take [the] risk, especially given the significant progress the company has made since Bob came back."

Or at least that's what Iger's handpicked loyalists say...

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Doesn't it stand to reason that these endorsements at least may be part of a larger influence campaign by the company? Get all these noteworthy people (Lucas, Gad, Abigail Disney, and more to come) to come out in support of Iger, and in exchange, they get a big fat check, or other preferential treatment (a Disney Legends award, perhaps).

Sounds conspiratorial, I know. But it would be no different than paying off social media influencers (through cash, free passes or other perks) to come to the parks and rave about the latest cupcake offering.

You're right that it sounds conspiratorial.

Lucas and Abigail Disney in particular are both already filthy rich and have never shied away from tearing Iger apart in the past. They aren't remotely fans of Iger. Which is why i'm quite certain that in their cases, they're seeing the larger picture of Peltz being a far bigger threat to Disney than Iger.

Eisner's endorsement doesn't surprise me since he's been publicly praising Iger for years now. But fundamentally, he's still probably legitimately seeing Iger as better for the company's longterm financials than Peltz.

We know what Peltz wants to do with Disney if he ever gained power there. It's the same thing he's done to every other company he's gained power in. Iger is rightfully perceived as slowly chipping away what made the company great. What Peltz would do would be the equivalent of a smoking crater from a nuke.

 

[James Alucobond]

Fair point, but would you at least consider it as a possibility?

I mean, there are many, many possibilities that are not terribly probable. You could say this in an attempt to lend credibility to virtually any conspiracy. What makes you think this one is especially worth entertaining? It's more likely that we're seeing a combination of people speaking either of their own volition or in response to Disney's urging to support Iger (which was also made generally to the public). Suggesting that money is changing hands is conspiratorial, and it's not even terribly relevant aside from being able to point and say, "Look! Person doing questionable thing!" It doesn't make Peltz any better.

 

[Tha Realest]

People I disagree with are not necessarily stupid. But anyone who loves Disney and still supports Peltz is unquestionably stupid. It’s ok to hate Iger and want change… but this isn’t it.

When, and how, will the change come? Peltz is a reaction to the mismanagement. None of the four rumored replacements - if they make it through the process - suggests any meaningful change is in store.

In fact, each of these people are calling for more Iger-ism.

 

[Tha Realest]

No, you're exactly right. Look at the text of Gad's statement:

"I am fortunate to have seen some of the plans Bob Iger has in store for the future and that future couldn't be in better hands."

How would a random actor be privy to the future of The Walt Disney Company? Sure, there will be Frozen lands and new Frozen movies. We knew that already. He's talking about information we don't have. What this indicates is that there was an event where influencers were invited to see some of the upcoming plans. This likely included presentations by Doctor, Feige, Kennedy, and D'Amaro. Something of a private D23. Iger also probably attended and personally met with the influencers.

Iger is running a political campaign. Complete with celebrity endorsements, adds, attacks in the press, etc. Private events with politicians and influencers are standard operating procedure for the political realm. All you need to know about why Disney is operating this like a political campaign is on Disney's executive biography page. Disney's current head of Communications Kristina Schake has the following background:

"Ms. Schake has served at the highest levels of government, as Communications Director for First Lady Michelle Obama and Deputy Communications Director for Secretary Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign."

She's literally a political operative. She's using the entire playbook. No conspiracy.

The strategy they’re employing is like a flailing candidate that needs a boost in the polls so they trot out a congressman with some reputational cache that’s been retired for a few years.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

All of these endorsements, including from people such as George Lucas who have previously been scathing in their criticism of Iger, should paint a pretty clear picture of how much worse Peltz and his cronies would be.

To reiterate- Bob Iger IS a horrible leader. Peltz is somehow 100x worse.

You can not like Peltz…but not go that far. It’s what I keep referring to as “the boogieman”

If iger gets like 95% of the vote…he will run with as validation of everything he’s ever done…including the obvious mistakes that got them here

 

[James Alucobond]

If iger get la 95% of the vote…he will run with as validation of everything he’s ever done…including the obvious mistakes that got them here

And if he doesn't, will he take that as an indication that he should do more of what Peltz and Rasulo would do? You're not painting a picture of an outcome where things actually improve.

 

[Tha Realest]

Many in the anti-Peltz faction acknowledge that changes need be made, and the cleanest and easiest would be a shakeup of the feckless BOD.

Again, how would that change be coming about but for what’s happening now?

The four nominal candidates in waiting are more of the same.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Many in the anti-Peltz faction acknowledge that changes need be made, and the cleanest and easiest would be a shakeup of the feckless BOD.

Again, how would that change be coming about but for what’s happening now?

The four nominal candidates in waiting are more of the same.

There is no change coming. There are two outcomes to this drama-

1- Iger wins and continues to do what he already would have done anyway (this is also what is going to happen as Peltz has no chance here).

2- Peltz wins and gains a foothold in the company to be able to make changes that accelerate the damage done and enrich himself in the process.

There was never an outcome in this fight that would have caused things to improve for the company. Your options were the status quo (Iger) or far worse (Peltz).

If there is ever an ACTUAL adult in the room who magically appears on the scene and has the potential to serve as a viable alternative and improvement over Iger, or otherwise improve things, then we can discuss giving them power. Peltz is not that person. And until such a person actually comes into existence, this fight is quite one sided and Iger is the only option.

 

[JoeCamel]

What’s Zenia Mucha been up to lately?

Well, she has a consulting company. Anyone seen a contract with ZM Strategies pop up lately?

 

[James Alucobond]

Many in the anti-Peltz faction acknowledge that changes need be made, and the cleanest and easiest would be a shakeup of the feckless BOD.

... With people who are infinitely more feckless?

Again, how would that change be coming about but for what’s happening now?

How will changing things for the worse make things better? How does nominating these people lead to a desirable outcome? Yes, it's disruptive to current leadership, but it's also destructive and does nothing to steer the ship back on course. It's just setting out for even more treacherous waters.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And if he doesn't, will he take that as an indication that he should do more of what Peltz and Rasulo would do? You're not painting a picture of an outcome where things actually improve.

No…who says it’s binary…for about 4,001st time?

This is not a mma match between iger and Rasulo

And there is a way where this goes in the right direction

 

[James Alucobond]

No…who says it’s binary…for about 4,001st time?

You can say it as many times as you like, but it is literally a binary choice. You vote yes or no on Trian's nominees.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Well I for one am shocked to learn that Peltz is repeating Perlmutter’s awful sentiments about movies and casting. Weird for him to say it even though they’ve all changed and it’s definitely not an issue.

 

[Tha Realest]

You can say it as many times as you like, but it is literally a binary choice. You vote yes or no on Trian's nominees.

There three entities at play: Disney, Blackwells, and Trian. Not binary.

 

[asianway]

1) I don’t think these people are don’t really disagree with Iger; I don’t think they’re necessarily bought and paid for

2) I do think the near-daily rollout on social media by people who have never really weighed in on this kind of thing before, with remarkably similar talking points, smells of an orchestrated campaign.

What’s Zenia Mucha been up to lately?

Not leading this campaign. It wouldn’t have gotten this far

 

[James Alucobond]

There three entities at play: Disney, Blackwells, and Trian. Not binary.

It is binary as to whether or not you opt to vote for Trian's nominees using their proxy card.

Also, strangely, the mysterious way this might magically make things "go in the right direction" is never discussed in concrete terms.