There have been some major changes in leadership at the Walt Disney Company over the last two years!
When Bob Iger stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Bob Chapek in early 2020, some changes were made to the company as roles shifted. Since then, Bob Iger has been Chairman of the Board for the Walt Disney Company, but now that is changing.
CNBC reports today that Susan Arnold is now replacing Bob Iger as Executive Chairman at the Walt Disney Company. Iger had already planned to leave the company in December 2021 after his time in the Chairman position.
Iger shared his thoughts on his replacement in a statement: “Having most recently served as independent Lead Director, Susan is the perfect choice for Chairman of the Board, and I am confident the Company is well-positioned for continued success under her guidance and leadership.” Arnold has been on the Walt Disney Company board for 14 years and has served as the independent Lead Director since 2018.
Bob Iger’s career with Disney comes to an end after 47 years of working with the company. He was the Walt Disney Company CEO for 15 of those years, then stepped down in February 2020. Iger had previously planned to step down in 2018, but those plans were extended twice.
Iger’s contract was set to expire this year, allowing him the perfect timing to step away. Throughout his career as CEO, he oversaw some of the company’s largest acquisitions, as well as some major changes in the theme parks. He was also CEO when the company launched its streaming service, Disney+.
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What do you think of this change? Let us know in the comments!
Ken says
Time to move on, he was good but not as good as Michael Eisner for cast members and guests… The new CEO, the bald guy sucks
Daniel says
They are replacing the wrong senior manager. #firechapek
Ronjon says
And as Bob Iger goes, so does what Disney used to be and how it treated its fans and guest.
Now it is just another strictly a money grabbing corporation that cares nothing about its long time loyal fan/guest base. The Disney parks are now becoming elitist destinations for the wealthy who have money to burn.
Disney has always been a for profit company, but now it’s pricing out the average visitor. Soon the middle and lower working class will no longer be able to afford a visit to the parks .
Christine Robertson says
Hopefully she will rein in all the unreasonable increases in cost of EVERYTHING! Disney World is fast becoming the elitist world and not the Magical Place. This IS NOT what Walt intended it to be.
Alan C says
Maybe Susan will reign-in Chapek. I sure hope she’s Disney at heart. We hope and pray.
MrToadsWildRide says
I wish her first move as Chairman would be to fire Chapek as CEO.
Debbie says
Bob Iger was a great Disney chairman! The current one isn’t doing Disney justice. Welcome to Susan Arnold! We are hoping Susan Arnold brings back some of the Magic that is currently missing!
Rick TR says
Why couldn’t it have been the other Bob?
pattie says
Chapek needs to go we r hopefully going to c that happen
Kimberley Fischer says
Susan Arnold needs to get rid of Bob Chapek as her first official duty. He’s killing the parks for greed and totally ruining the family friendly vibe that Walt fought for.
CT says
Too bad he couldn’t have stayed longer. His successor as parks CEO Bob Cheapskate is destroying the company.
Jennifer says
Please let us know when Disney announces their replacement for Chapek!
Don says
I wonder if Disney has a clipping service so that the board can read what people are saying. We know that Chapek doesn’t care, he works for the stockholders..wait a minute, isn’t that what Arnold eluded to? Who am I kidding? Disney knows there is absolutely nothing they can do that will stop the onslaught of crowds coming. I guess this is one company that is “to big to fail”.
David Kinsman says
For starters it will be good to have the CEO not a board of director member
dan says
I dont think chapek is long for disneys world. this move is a telling step making her chairman, if she has any brain at all and I pray a disney heart, I hope she will get rid of Chapek. he is terrible not only for the parks but the company as a whole and the board needs to wake up, or maybe they all need to go.
Susan J Daugherty says
I agree. this new guy is ruining the parks. I have gone every year ford 15 years and am no longer interested in going. Even skipped my invitation to go to the new “Star Wars Hotel”. Not so interested anymore. Maybe time to check out Harry Potter Land at Universal! That is what happens when you take the guy in charge of merchandising and put him in charge of the parks. Hope he doesn’t last long!
Kimberley Fischer says
He wasn’t even good at merchandizing. Do you know how difficult it is to get Loki items that are MCU based rather than comic book based? I belong to several groups and we basically have to make anything we want to have because it’s JUST NOT BEING MADE. And this is even after they gave Loki his own series and then renewed it for a second season. WTH? They’ve got Spiderman stuff up the wazoo, but not Loki. I went into the big marvel merchandise store in California Adventure in September. There were two Loki items in the entire store. Both from the comic books, not from the MCU. But you were falling all over Spiderman items. You’d think they’d be looking to make money there, but this guy cannot “read” the fandom. No wonder he’s ruining the actual parks. He should get a visit from the ghosts of the “old men” of the original Disneyland to kick him out.