Bob Iger Announces Kareem Daniel, a Lieutenant of Bob Chapek, Is Leaving Disney

With Bob Iger’s return as the Disney CEO, many are expecting a major shakeup when it comes to executives at The Walt Disney Company.

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Now, we’ve seen one of the first moves that Iger is making to adjust leadership and reshape the company into his own vision.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kareem Daniel is going to be leaving Disney. Daniel (who was Disney’s head of media and entertainment) was “a top lieutenant for former Disney CEO Bob Chapek,” and several experts predicted that he may be one of the first to go in this major adjustment.

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Iger has been directed to “set the strategic direction for renewed growth,” which process will likely involve more changes in Disney leadership. The Reporter stated that “Wall Street analysts and company watchers had been expecting a reorganization of the company’s streaming division, as Iger seeks to reshape the company’s streaming strategy and return to a structure that prioritizes greater decision-making by creatives.”

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Iger sent a note to Disney employees on Monday, November 21st, which stated, “I’ve asked Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Jimmy Pitaro, and Christine McCarthy to work together on the design of a new structure that puts more decision-making back in the hands of our creative teams and rationalizes costs, and this will necessitate a reorganization of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. As a result, Kareem Daniel will be leaving the company, and I hope you will all join me in thanking him for his many years of service to Disney.”

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Daniel was appointed by Bob Chapek to head the newly organized media and entertainment distribution group in 2020.

Disney is striving to reach its goal of making Disney+ profitable in fiscal year 2024, which is a big ask after the company reported $1.5 billion in streaming losses last quarter. Many of Iger’s decisions now may focus on that goal.