We’ve been busy keeping up with all the events that have unfolded since Bob Iger took over as Disney CEO.
©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images
After it was revealed that Iger signed on for just two years, questions emerged about who exactly would step up to take his place once the clock runs out. And with other executives leaving The Walt Disney Company following former CEO Bob Chapek’s exit, the pool of contenders seems to be getting smaller. But, according to a new report — one Disney executive could be taking the lead.
It hasn’t been long since Bob Iger took over as CEO of The Walt Disney Company again, and they’re already looking for his replacement. But, that was part of the deal when he signed back on for another two years — get the company back on track and find his successor.
©Reuters
Now that much of the dust has settled surrounding the CEO shake-up, rumors have been swirling about who could potentially replace Iger and be the next leader of this massive company. A new report from Deadline indicates that Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy is a “leading contender” for the role.
Christine McCarthy ©The Walt Disney Company
According to a “Disney insider,” McCarthy “has always been a force to be reckoned with” and she should be put “on a list of top five possibilities after the last few weeks,” referring to McCarthy leading the charge to go around then-CEO Chapek and raise concerns about his position as CEO to the Board of Directors.
If McCarthy did become Disney CEO, she would be the first female to do so in the history of The Walt Disney Company.
Cinderella Castle
After having been the treasurer of Disney for several years, McCarthy stepped up as CFO in 2015, and was “influential in helping to successfully engineer a string of key mergers, and adept at raising and husbanding cash during the depth of COVID.”
She was reportedly “distraught” by the company’s bottom line and “missteps by Chapek over the last 18 months.” And then, in mid-November, McCarthy went to board chairperson Susan Arnold and threatened to resign if Chapek “was not cut loose immediately.”
©Disney
But now, it’s Iger who has the job of choosing a successor, and McCarthy is reportedly in the running — along with Disney General Entertainment Content chair Dana Walden. With multiple executive exits in recent years, the pool of contenders is getting smaller, and analysts have called McCarthy “a straight shooter” and “very capable” of being in the role.
©CNBC
“She really shined when the pandemic hit. She did exactly what the CFO should do. She lined up enough cash for one to two years of no revenue. She put together a huge bundle of cash at reasonable rates very quickly to protect the company,” said an analyst.
It was even McCarthy who handled the difficult questions during the company’s most recent earnings call.
Magic Kingdom
Whoever the next CEO ends up being, it’s clear that McCarthy has emerged as a top choice to lead The Walt Disney Company, and it doesn’t seem like she’s going anywhere anytime soon either way. She, along with Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, and Jimmy Pitaro will be restructuring Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution at the direction of Iger.
Bob Iger ©New York Post
We’ll continue to keep an eye on this situation and let you know of any updates. Want to learn more about Bob Iger’s return as Disney’s CEO? Check out these posts:
- Is Disney CEO Bob Iger on a Collision Course with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis?
- CEO Bob Iger Reportedly Believed Chapek Was “Killing the Soul” of The Walt Disney Company
- 7 Big Challenges Bob Iger Will Face as Disney’s New CEO
- Why Disney Replaced Bob Chapek With Bob Iger
Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news.
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McCarthy needs to work on her “How to say it.” Disney Dining Plan Guests do not appreciate a lecture on portion size reduction in order to reduce our waistlines. And Annual Passholders do not appreciate being referred to as “undesirable Park attendees” because of our contribution to the park’s profit margin vs ticketed guests. Keep searching, Mr. Iger. We saw with Chapek that Emotional Intelligence is a real thing in executive leadership.
I think McCarthy would be another mistake. She has made her share of questionable comments during the Chapek leadership.
Am I missing something or would this be “more of the same” we have seen? It seems to me that from what I have been reading, except that she was going to resign unless a change occurred, she I had the same values and ideas the latest administration had. I hope I am wrong!
OK, so the “Top Contender” is actually the CFO who stated that smaller food portions (higher profitability) are good for guests waistlines. In my opinion (and I have an Accounting degree) a bean-counter is not the right fit for an organization like Disney.
Wait-a-minute… She is the executive who suggested that cutting portion sizes would help overweight guests… c’mon Disney. Can we get someone who respects Walt’s vision, guests and fans?
Just no. Evidence has already been seen that she looks down on Disney guests with her snarky comments. We need someone in there that actually respects us and looks out for us. Not one who wants to give us less but charge us more.
I think a woman would be great for the job! I’m hoping for a little compassion for children and maybe she will know how to lead. These children only want to play and be oblivious of the outside world! Let them be little!
McCarthy is a money person, but is she a Disney person?
We were spoiled with Disney people at the helm in years past, most recently Eisner (part 1), Wells, Katzenburg, and Iger. Ovitz, Chapek and others saw Disney as nothing more than a retail opportunity.
How will McCarthy see it? Sure, the kingdom now includes the huge streaming business, recently buoyed by park success, so not apples-to-apples in terms of priorities and opportunities.
Will she surround herself with capable, Disney-focused leaders with whom she will balance all of the kingdom’s many facets? She likely can’t do any worse than her predecessor so the bar is exceedingly low.
Much success to you, Christine, as you (potentially) lead the company to profitability balanced with regard for your employees and customers!
Wow, how to go from bad to worse.
The women who called patrons fat? She’d be another disaster for Disney. Zero people skills and another pen pushing money grabber. Disney need to look outside their kiddy pool and find someone totally new.
Why is this necessary now. Plenty of time for considering potential candidates for the next CEO. Iger and Disney do not need anymore controversies at this time.
We don’t need another numbers person. That’s what Chapek was. Only concerned about the numbers. We need someone who can look at both sides, making money and making magic at the same time. And they have to juggle a huge company (not just the parks) so I get that they want someone with business savvy. Just not her. Please.
Seriously? Isn’t time to hire someone outside the swamp?
If it is going to be Christine M. she will need a creative partner. Think of Frank Wells and Michael Eisner. Ms. McCarthy doesn’t have the creative experience to move Disney into the future. Look what happened when Bob Iger picked Bob Chapek.
I believe Disney needs to go outside the Disney bubble or find a partner for Ms. Mccarthy.
Wasn’t it McCarthy who said we should all watch our waistlines?
Still not over this cringey comment made by Christine McCarthy on the Disney stockholder call regarding inflation costs.
“.we can cut portion sizes which is good for some people’s waist lines..”
Yikes. People are on vacation and already paying too much for most of these meals.
From what I have seen of her in print I do not trust her
Has everyone forgotten this is the same woman who fat shamed Disney’s own guests? Great choice.
No fat shaming bean counters please. We need someone creative who “gets” Disney!
I like Ken Potrock. Did a great job at DVC, Cruise Line and DI. Still childlike, personable, in charge of Disney lan now came up from ESPN, not a traditional insider. Go Ken
With two years of Bob Iger seasoning McCarthy could do the job well. She has a nice long tenure with Disney and should “know” the company well including what actually works. Disney really needs to promise something they can deliver.
No. Just no. Either go lower on the totem pole within the company, with someone that didn’t have any close connection to Chapek and his ways, or go outside the company. You need someone who won’t rob Peter to pay Paul. They need someone that can find a way to just pay Paul. The parks make billions in profits. They don’t need to keep raising the prices of everything within the parks to pay for a product that has nothing to do with the parks bottom line. Figure out a better way for Disney+ to be self sufficient. I don’t know, maybe lower the price of the subscriptions, or offer better deals to get more people to buy into it. Obviously raising the price on it isn’t working. Hire me, I will come up with something to keep park guests happy, without constantly raising prices, and figure out how to make Disney+ profitable. What do you actually have to lose after having Chapek in charge? 🤷🏼♂️
Hu the Lu is offering subscription including Disney+ & Espn for $9.99 a month. I would just rather pay the annual fee than by the month.
I also contacted Disney+ asking about opening the Vault, those oldie Goldies many of us grew up watching, OOPS, I just gave away my age.
Disney answered saying that opening the vault entails licensing, remastering old films and more.
I hope that everyone is going to also email their comments Disney as well. Disney needs to know how their guests feel about the next CEO.