Bob Iger to step down in March 2015

[DVCconvert]

Iger to step down in March 2015

Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Iger will step down in March 2015 after less than 10 years at the helm of the largest U.S. media and entertainment conglomerate.

Iger will hold the positions of chairman and chief executive officer through March 31, 2015, Disney said Friday.

Iger succeeded Michael Eisner as Disney's CEO in October 2005, which means his tenure as chief executive will be less than a decade long. Eisner's reign at Disney, which ranks among the longest and most storied -- both for better and worse -- in CEO history, lasted 21 years, from 1984 until 2005.

After vacating the CEO role, Iger, 60, will continue to serve as executive chairman of Disney's board through June 30, 2016, the company said in a statement.

The company did not mention possible successors, but industry speculation has centered on Chief Financial Officer Jay Rasulo and the head of Disney's huge theme parks and resorts division, Tom Staggs.

Rasulo and Staggs previously held each other's positions, but Iger made them switch roles in 2009, in part to groom them for the CEO role by exposing them to different parts of the Magic Kingdom's big business.

Shares in Disney were down 1 percent at $31.70 in afternoon trade. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine. Editing Gerald E. McCormick and Robert MacMillan)


Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/10/07/disneys-iger-to-step-down-in-2015/#ixzz1a7UaANqo

 

[Figment632]

Yes great news way worse than Eisner!

 

[skiingfast]

This is announced so early the board should not be reelected.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Yes great news way worse than Eisner!

♫ ♫ hallelujah ! ♫
♫ ♫ hallelujah ! ♫
♫ ♫ hal--le--lu--jah ! ♫♫

1) Amen !
2) I thought no one could be worse then Mike.
3) I was wrong.
4) Now, is the devil we know better than than the devil we do not know?
5) I "think" I would like to see Skaggs.
6) Now, if we could see Meg retire, the World would be right.

 

[nytimez]

The company's leaders, going back to Walt himself, have never been big on succession plans. This is a landmark moment in more ways than one.

 

[ASteelersMidget]

Now here's the question. Would Staggs or Rasulo be better for the parks???

 

[SmilingGrump]

Very odd to announce this 3-1/2 years before it happens. That's one LOOOOOOOOOONG goodbye but I guess having an expiration date on his dual roles is what got it passed by the board.

 

[ChrisFL]

I still don't get the hate for Iger

He brought Lucas back on board to update Star Tours, he oversaw the purchase of Pixar and got John Lasseter involved in Imagineering...which overall has been a good thing IMO. There's massive expansions happening to DCA, MK at WDW, Animal Kingdom, HKDL and now Shanghai looks to be impressive.

So...still don't get the hate.

 

[daybreaker]

I vote for Lassiter.

 

[Figment632]

I still don't get the hate for Iger

He brought Lucas back on board to update Star Tours, he oversaw the purchase of Pixar and got John Lasseter involved in Imagineering...which overall has been a good thing IMO. There's massive expansions happening to DCA, MK at WDW, Animal Kingdom, HKDL and now Shanghai looks to be impressive.

So...still don't get the hate.

Screwed up getting Potter and the state of the parks upkeep is a disgrace.

Approving a billion dollars for the joke that is Next Gen.

 

[ChrisFL]

Screwed up getting Potter and the state of the parks upkeep is a disgrace.

Approving a billion dollars for the joke that is Next Gen.

I'll agree about the parks upkeep, but I don't blame that entirely on him, there's blame to go around.

We have barely seen what they're doing with next Gen. A couple of enhanced queues is, from what I've heard, just the tip of the iceberg. I'm taking a wait and see approach with that.

 

[Disneyman_10]

I'd have to say that i want staggs...

if he were in charge of everything i think they should put bruce vaughn (chief creative officer) in charge of the parks.

 

[Oglet]

♫ ♫ hallelujah ! ♫
♫ ♫ hallelujah ! ♫
♫ ♫ hal--le--lu--jah ! ♫♫

1) Amen !
2) I thought no one could be worse then Mike.
3) I was wrong.
4) Now, is the devil we know better than than the devil we do not know?
5) I "think" I would like to see Skaggs.
6) Now, if we could see Meg retire, the World would be right.

YES YES YES YES YES YES

This is the best news ever!

I'll roll the dice and take a chance on someone else. This is a case of better the devil we don't know.

The only better news than this would be if he would speed up the whole process, although I believe he wants to be at the helm to take credit for all the things in the works.

 

[johnGorski]

I would love to see John Lasseter as head of Disney but I am sure that will not happen.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Screwed up getting Potter and the state of the parks upkeep is a disgrace.

Approving a billion dollars for the joke that is Next Gen.

I don't agree with the parks or Harry Potter being a loss - JK Rowling wanted full control of the concept, design, etc. and that is just not good news for Imagineers or Disney. The Harry Potter area of Islands of Adventure is a big letdown in my opinion anyway. The only good thing is the frozen butter beer.

I don't see why people have a problem with Bob Iger. He has done a lot. Sure, he isn't the bubbly person that most seem to expect him to be, but the company has done quite well under his leadership considering that the economy hasn't been that great. I am shocked that they are announcing this so early anyway. 2015 isn't right around the corner.

For the record, John Lasseter has no interest in being the head of Disney. He has stated that before and he needs to stay put where he already is. His strength is the creative side, not the business side.

 

[ASteelersMidget]

I don't agree with the parks or Harry Potter being a loss - JK Rowling wanted full control of the concept, design, etc. and that is just not good news for Imagineers or Disney. The Harry Potter area of Islands of Adventure is a big letdown in my opinion anyway. The only good thing is the frozen butter beer.

I don't see why people have a problem with Bob Iger. He has done a lot. Sure, he isn't the bubbly person that most seem to expect him to be, but the company has done quite well under his leadership considering that the economy hasn't been that great. I am shocked that they are announcing this so early anyway. 2015 isn't right around the corner.

For the record, John Lasseter has no interest in being the head of Disney. He has stated that before and he needs to stay put where he already is. His strength is the creative side, not the business side.

And that's exactly why people want him on to take over. As long as He's creative, the Suits can run the business aspect of the company.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

And that's exactly why people want him on to take over. As long as He's creative, the Suits can run the business aspect of the company.

But, that is not what Disney needs - they need someone that is the business side. Business is about making money and if you just rely on the creative types, you will lose sight of that. Do we forget the partnership between Walt and Roy? Walt was irresponsible and took gambles all the time (which turned out okay sometimes) but Roy was there to balance things out. You need a partnership like that so whomever takes Bob's spot needs to be able to work with Imagineers, etc. Disney is a huge company with more divisions than most people realize exist. It is much more than theme parks and cartoons and whomever takes the reigns can't lose sight of that which for the record, I feel that Bob has not lost sight of that.

 

[nytimez]

I don't agree with the parks or Harry Potter being a loss - JK Rowling wanted full control of the concept, design, etc. and that is just not good news for Imagineers or Disney. The Harry Potter area of Islands of Adventure is a big letdown in my opinion anyway. The only good thing is the frozen butter beer.

Completely disagree. The Potter land is as well-themed as anything at Disney. They did a fantastic job. I know this because I have zero interest in Potter and I really enjoy the land - I can only imagine how it speaks to people who are actually fans of that stuff (and I see them gawking and gasping when I'm there).

If she had full control, she did a great job. The butterbeer is actually my least favorite thing there. It's all right, don't get me wrong, but nothing special.

 

[ASteelersMidget]

But, that is not what Disney needs - they need someone that is the business side. Business is about making money and if you just rely on the creative types, you will lose sight of that. Do we forget the partnership between Walt and Roy? Walt was irresponsible and took gambles all the time (which turned out okay sometimes) but Roy was there to balance things out. You need a partnership like that so whomever takes Bob's spot needs to be able to work with Imagineers, etc. Disney is a huge company with more divisions than most people realize exist. It is much more than theme parks and cartoons and whomever takes the reigns can't lose sight of that which for the record, I feel that Bob has not lost sight of that.

Without creativity the company will die. Iger was (is) all suit no creativity. That's been an issue. At least Eisner took risks.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Without creativity the company will die. Iger was (is) all suit no creativity. That's been an issue. At least Eisner took risks.

What?!? Tons of Disney and Pixar movies have come out and done very well with Iger at the helm. Disney Cruise Line has expanded, as has DVC, and another resort will be opening at WDW. D23 came online, as well as the Expo, Run Disney started and revamped all the races and added more, the Premier Pass became available, ABC has done great with a lot of its shows, they acquired Pixar, reconciled with Roy Disney, reacquired the rights for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and I am sure I missing a lot more things. Wow, he hasn't done anything. Eisner can hardly be looked at as a visionary...he nearly drove the company into the ground and was ousted because of it. I worked under Eisner and I can tell you that he was no visionary and had no interest for anyone except himself.