How Bob Chapek's Disney Dream Turned Into a Nightmare (Memoir Excerpt)
The Hollywood Reporter • • business
Key Points:
- Bob Iger's retirement was long anticipated but repeatedly postponed, with various potential successors, including the author, vying for the position over several years.
- Despite being prepared and positioned as a leading candidate, the author faced multiple delays and setbacks before Iger finally announced his departure in December 2019 and named the author as his successor.
- The transition was abrupt and challenging, with Iger remaining as executive chairman and creative director, creating a complex dynamic for the new CEO who had to report both to the board and Iger.
- Initial public appearances and shareholder meetings revealed tension and a lack of support from Iger, who seemed reluctant to fully relinquish control and openly displayed frustration and anger.
- The new CEO faced immediate challenges, including political controversies around ABC News and internal conflicts, all compounded by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a difficult tenure ahead.
