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

[Lilofan]

I think this about most people we place on pedestals, I think most “important” people (politicians, executives, etc) are bumbling and stumbling through life just like the rest of us, they’re just better at hiding their inadequacies and better at shifting blame for their mistakes.

I’ve worked for several multi billion dollar companies and in my experience the people running them are just average Joes (intellectually) who have worked their way to the top through time more than some special knowledge.

The average Joe CEO if they know how to hire or promote execs that are smarter in that particular field more than the CEO to lead those divisions. Where it comes down to is the loyalty they have to the CEO. When the boss says make it happen then the execs make it happen.

 

[monothingie]

Bingo.

(Hey anyone happen to know if she likes the Muppets )

With the exception of Jim Pitaro, who I believe a lot of people underestimate. There is no one internally other than Dana who is shrewd enough to proactively inoculate themselves against when (not if) and how Iger comes back if he ultimately decides to leave at all.

This article really closes the door on Iger pulling a repeat move of what happened with Chapek.

So the only move Iger has at this point is to not actually leave, which I genuinely think is the most likely outcome, especially since Disney is not exactly at a high point right now.

 

[Tha Realest]

So the only move Iger has at this point is to not actually leave, which I genuinely think is the most likely outcome, especially since Disney is not exactly at a high point right now.

Understatement of the day!

 

[flynnibus]

And Chapek was portrayed as the sympathetic chump or victim.

He's not flawless - but if the story is correct, he was certainly undermined and then hung out to dry by the CFO.

Basically the jist of the story is, once Iger soured on him for not continuing to kiss the ring properly, he was more then willing to undercut him and lead to his demise.

You can't give someone the keys to the kingdom and then work against them from inside. And that's exactly what Iger and the board apparently did.

No one is going to bat .1000 with their choices, nor be the perfect avatar from the get go.. but Disney sure has a history of screwing up promotions.

 

[Nubs70]

As pointed out by another learned poster, had $DIS not taken writeoffs (ie bad investment) for D+ and Star, the current stock price would be at the correct level as defined by the fundamental P/E of 20.

 

[Indy_UK]

I would have liked a shared CEO role with Josh and Dana.

I don't think she has a clue about Disney and its history

 

[DisneyHead123]

With the exception of Jim Pitaro, who I believe a lot of people underestimate. There is no one internally other than Dana who is shrewd enough to proactively inoculate themselves against when (not if) and how Iger comes back if he ultimately decides to leave at all.

This article really closes the door on Iger pulling a repeat move of what happened with Chapek.

So the only move Iger has at this point is to not actually leave, which I genuinely think is the most likely outcome, especially since Disney is not exactly at a high point right now.

This is only my take, but my read was that Iger expected something of an apprenticeship with the new CEO. And honestly, fair enough on that one. I'm sure it's an enormously complicated job that spans everything from international politics to needing to know media spin to staying on top of palace intrigue to running endlessly complicated parks and so on. I think what Chapek saw as a "lap dog" position he saw as a "training wheels" kinda position.

Since that didn't work out with Chapek, I think he's decided the young grasshopper phase now happens before any official titles are granted. Josh kinda looks and stands a little more like Iger every time you see him. My guess is they're spending a good bit of time together.

 

[Serpico Jones]

I would have liked a shared CEO role with Josh and Dana.

I don't think she has a clue about Disney and its history

Dana and Josh together is what they’re going to end up doing…and I think it’s going to be a disaster.

 

[monothingie]

I would have liked a shared CEO role with Josh and Dana.

I don't think she has a clue about Disney and its history

There’s nothing impressive between the two, or any internal candidate.

This article couldn’t have made it out there without multiple people from the c-suite past and present passing notes.

Bob doesn’t want to go, at least not on these terms. The board and bureaucracy is with whatever Bob wants to do. He’s got another year or two to rebuild, but I’m not sure if that’s possible. This story was supposed to force him to the door, but I think it does the opposite. This was a power play move to put pressure on him, but I think he stays. None of the internals have a fraction of his gravitas. The only one that does who has been circling from outside is Staggs.

 

[Lilofan]

And Chapek was portrayed as the sympathetic chump or victim.

What victim gets fired with a $23M exit package like Chapek?

 

[JD80]

He's not flawless - but if the story is correct, he was certainly undermined and then hung out to dry by the CFO.

Basically the jist of the story is, once Iger soured on him for not continuing to kiss the ring properly, he was more then willing to undercut him and lead to his demise.

You can't give someone the keys to the kingdom and then work against them from inside. And that's exactly what Iger and the board apparently did.

No one is going to bat .1000 with their choices, nor be the perfect avatar from the get go.. but Disney sure has a history of screwing up promotions.

Your decimal place is wrong.

 

[Dranth]

It is funny to me how many people are reading into the article what they want instead of what is actually there.

Iger comes across as petulant and controlling while Chapek needy, incompetent, and downright unintelligent.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

So the only move Iger has at this point is to not actually leave, which I genuinely think is the most likely outcome, especially since Disney is not exactly at a high point right now.

Red alert! Shields up, Mr worf

 

[DisneyHead123]

Iger comes across as petulant and controlling while Chapek needy, incompetent, and downright unintelligent.

I think the tone of the article should be taken with a huge grain of salt. The factual details were interesting, but they are constantly describing people “fuming”, “stewing”, etc. upon hearing various remarks or in reaction to certain things. Like really, how would they know what all parties were doing internally?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Iger comes across as petulant and controlling while Chapek needy, incompetent, and downright unintelligent.

So exactly how we had them pegged?

Now can we do “Josh”?…oh…the filter…nevermind

 

[JD80]

It is funny to me how many people are reading into the article what they want instead of what is actually there.

Iger comes across as petulant and controlling while Chapek needy, incompetent, and downright unintelligent.

That's how I read it.

One man past his prime and one man not ready for prime time.

 

[Serpico Jones]

It is funny to me how many people are reading into the article what they want instead of what is actually there.

Iger comes across as petulant and controlling while Chapek needy, incompetent, and downright unintelligent.

Iger comes across as an egomaniac who doesn’t want to be left out of Hollywood shindigs and used a public company as his own plaything while the incompetent board sat back and did nothing. How there wasn’t a mass exodus from the boardroom after all this is an even bigger mystery.

 

[Disney Irish]

I think the tone of the article should be taken with a huge grain of salt. The factual details were interesting, but they are constantly describing people “fuming”, “stewing”, etc. upon hearing various remarks or in reaction to certain things. Like really, how would they know what all parties were doing internally?

I don't know how much is really "factual" and how much is just people speaking to the authors and retelling their version of events from their perspective. Memory is a funny thing, as its inaccurate and can be manipulated with each retelling of a story. I'd take the whole article with a huge truck load of salt, as its basically just the same information from that CNBC article from last year (as a poster pointed out in another thread).

The largest takeaway that should be taken from this and that CNBC article, Iger really did leave, so that should put an end to the tirade from some here that Iger never left.

 

[Dranth]

I think the tone of the article should be taken with a huge grain of salt. The factual details were interesting, but they are constantly describing people “fuming”, “stewing”, etc. upon hearing various remarks or in reaction to certain things. Like really, how would they know what all parties were doing internally?

I partially disagree here. The tone mostly comes from the people that they talked to for the article, not the article itself.

 

[Dranth]

Iger comes across as an egomaniac who doesn’t want to be left out of Hollywood shindigs and used a public company as his own plaything while the incompetent board sat back and did nothing. How there wasn’t a mass exodus from the boardroom after all this is an even bigger mystery.

Yes, he is an egomaniac, just like every last type A CEO that will ever exist. You don't get that job without being one or if you do, you quickly become one.

Also, a big chunk of the board was replaced.