Eisner may name Iger Successor

[Sarangel]

From the This Is London website:

Embattled Walt Disney chief Michael Eisner may at last be set to name a successor. He is preparing for contract renewal talks with his deputy Bob Iger, negotiations that may force the unpopular chief executive's hand.

Iger's contract as president and chief operating officer expires at the end of next month, a year before Eisner's is up for renewal.

The question of succession has dogged Eisner for years and is a key issue among dissident shareholders seeking to have him thrown out.

Analysts predict Eisner could name Iger as successor, possibly within six months.

Eisner has not said whether he wants to continue as chief executive past 2006, take over as chairman or retire.

Nor will Iger discuss the issue. 'Ultimately these are decisions to be made by the board of directors. They should be based on one thing and one thing only, the performance in the current job,' he said recently.

But investors may have almost as many question marks over Iger as they do Eisner.

Although respected within the company, Iger is closely tied to the loss-making TV network ABC.

 

[wtg2000]

Eisner has not said whether he wants to continue as chief executive past 2006, take over as chairman or retire.

Does anyone think that Eisner will make it past the next annual meeting? I guess since he's not on the board shareholders can't vote against him.

 

[manning]

How is Iger' s name spelled? E-I-S-N-E-R

 

[raidermatt]

Iger Schmiger.

One thing I do want to point out that is just plain wrong:

Nor will Iger discuss the issue. 'Ultimately these are decisions to be made by the board of directors. They should be based on one thing and one thing only, the performance in the current job,' he said recently.

No, the decisions should be based on the candidates ability to do the new job. Performance in their current position is a part of that, but its not even close to being the one and only thing that matters.

 

[wtg2000]

I thought Iger was responsible for the failures at ABC. So how's he going to do with the whole company? If he has good ideas, then shouldn't we be seeing them now?

 

[DancingBear]

Originally posted by wtg2000
Does anyone think that Eisner will make it past the next annual meeting? I guess since he's not on the board shareholders can't vote against him.

He's still on the Board, he's just not Chairman. Comcast went away, quarterly earnings reports just beat the analysts' predictions, and the opposition movement appears to have lost steam. I say he's there until 2006.