Bob Iger returns nearly 3 years after leaving Disney, where he served as CEO from 2005 to 2020. Iger, who is also one of the biggest shareholders of the company, is preparing for the new two-year term.
In June, the company's board of directors unanimously decided to extend Bob Chapek's contract as CEO for another three years. Now, the board has decided that Chapek, who took the post of CEO at the beginning of the epidemic, guided the company through one of the most turbulent times of the pandemic, but the future of Disney is in better hands with Iger.
Spending 15 years of his Disney career as CEO, Iger was instrumental in the incorporation of big brands such as Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars host Lucasfilm, and pioneered the establishment of Disney Plus in November 2019. Iger, who officially left the company after nearly 50 years at the end of last year, has returned for two years with the latest development.
"We thank Bob Chapek for his service to Disney throughout his career, including leading the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic," said Disney Chairman Susan Arnold. "The board has decided that Bob Iger will lead the company at this crucial time as Disney enters an increasingly complex industry transformation." “I am extremely optimistic about the future of the company and it is exciting that the board wants me to return as CEO,” said Iger.
Robert Iger was born in New York to a Jewish family. He is the eldest son of Mimi (née Tunick) and Arthur L. Iger (b. 1926). His father was the vice president and general manager of Greenvale Marketing Corporation, as well as a professor of advertising and public relations. He participated in World War II and became a veteran. His mother studied at Boardman Junior High School in Oceanside, New York.
He previously served as chairman of ABC Television from 1994 to 1995 and chairman/COO of Capital Cities/ABC from 1995 until it was acquired by Disney in 1996. Iger was named chairman/COO of Disney in 2000 and replaced Michael Eisner as CEO in 2005.
About her book
The Ride of a Lifetime
Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
“If you are awake while everyone else is asleep, you can achieve success” Robert Iger's golden sentence in the book is a successful business story ranging from an entry-level position in a media organization to the CEO of companies that shape today's media industry. A manager role model who, so to speak, does not forget where he came from, values people, knows how to apologize when he makes a mistake and leaves the impression of a perfect profile.