Steve Jobs to take a Seat on the Disney Board...

[ProfGoofy]

The New York Post just published an article that suggests (rumors) that Apple Computer founder Steve Jobs may become the new thorn in Eisner's side as part of a deal to keep Disney and Pixar on the same path.

http://www.nypost.com/business/12500.htm

 

[Lesley]

I'd love to see some educated guesses on what this might possibly mean...good or bad?

 

[Peter Pirate]

I don't see how Job's on the board will help Roy and Stan in their fight to oust eisner unless he's going as the 'insider' for Roy & Stan but I don't see Jobs as being that 'useable' ... Unless there IS a BIG, BIG payday around the corner for him (as in eisner's job, as we've been discussing on another thread).

The other side of the coin could be that certainly a position for Job's on the board might bode well for Disney resigning with Pixar ... but this wouldn't be damaging to eisner, would it?

This is very curious.

 

[hopemax]

Well, I'm not sure how much I believe Eisner putting Jobs on the board will really happen, or if it's just wishful thinking.

However, my first impression is, if this is true, Eisner is REALLY desperate to re-sign Pixar. That's pretty much the only way I can see Eisner doing it. The board seat is contingent on Pixar re-signing. But I can't see Pixar re-signing without a change of Disney's top management.

So I guess, if this true, it's a good thing.

 

[Bstanley]

IMHO a couple of rumors got crossed here.

I think Roy may have offered Steve a position on the NEW Disney board, after Steve has assisted in deposing The Big ME.

 

[raidermatt]

Yeah, respected as the Post is , this doesn't sound like its really based on anything new.

A lot probably depends on whether Jobs really WANTS the position, and if Disney/Gold are really courting him, or at least somebody he approves of, as a replacement for Eisner.

It sounds like the dislike they have for each other is real, and if so, certainly Jobs wouldn't really trust Eisner to follow through on any succession plan unless its in writing.

If Disney/Gold could get Jobs in their corner, that would certainly lend a lot of credibility to their cause.

Maybe Eisner realizes this and is courting Jobs himself, as an alternative to having to try to fight him off??? The lessor of two evils, in his eyes???

If there is any truth to the article, it does thicken the plot.

 

[raidermatt]

I'd love to see some educated guesses on what this might possibly mean...good or bad?

To answer this question directly, I'd say devastating to the Disney/Gold cause of ousting Eisner. A succession plan that involved Jobs would likely make the investors tune out anything Disney/Gold would have to say.

As far as what it means to the company overall, it would mean Eisner would continue to run the company, which is bad. However, if one likes Jobs as a replacement, and he eventually got the job, that would bode well for the long term.

Again, though, this seems a lot more far-fetched than the Disney/Gold/Jobs coalition scenario.

 

[JonetteA]

Just because there could be a plan does not mean that there is action. It could be another 5 years or so. Will Jobs wait that long, and what about conflicts of interest? If Jobs gets Eisner's job...I don't think that this is likely.

 

[raidermatt]

Again, I'm on the side of this being one of the least likely scenarios I've seen. That said, if Jobs were involved, I would think the latest a changeover would occur would be 2006, when Eisner's contract ran out.

If Eisner really did feel threatened by the Disney/Gold/Jobs possibility, he might agree to step down sooner in order to go out on "his terms" and to get Jobs on board. In that case, Disney/Gold's objective would at least partially be accomplished.

Think about it... Eisner silences many critics by not only continuing the Pixar relationship, but making it closer than ever, possibly even bringing the whole crew over to Disney, Lasseter included. He then rides off into the sunset, with a golden saddle of course. Certainly there are worse ways for this to end for him.

Really, from an outside pov, any scenario that results in Eisner stepping down early, and especially one that puts a Disney/Gold supported CEO in place, has to be considered at least a partial victory.

 

[lucky_bunni]

I don't think Jobs would be ME's successor because he isn't going to leave HIS company, Apple Computer. He couldn't do both jobs because running Disney is really a two person job... perhaps why ME has failed while running it alone. It would be great IMO if Jobs did run Disney, but for him to leave Apple would be like Walt leaving Disney.

 

[Mr D]

What was the name of the guy that ran Vivendi's Universal Studios and IOA? Wasn't he a pretty good CEO that made USF into a real competitor for Disney? Last I remember he was ousted because he was actually spending too much money for cutting edge rides like Spiderman, did he just ride off into the sunset?


And a personal thought for somebody that gave me inspiration,
Happy Birthday Walt! your spirit is still among us, we will not forget, we owe you for what you started many years ago.

 

[Galahad]

It would be great IMO if Jobs did run Disney

Why do you think this would be great?

 

[mrtoadslastride]

Originally posted by Galahad
Why do you think this would be great?

Jobs may have an Eisner sized ego, but he does understand the importance of producing a quality product. You could even argue that Apple in the past sacrificed profit/market share for the sake of making the best product they could.

 

[deb305]

If I had to guess, if the rumor is true, it has more to do with Jobs protecting Pixar than suceeding Eisner. It is not unheard for critical business partners to sit on each other board. At this time Disney probably need Pixar more than Pixar needs Disney. Since Pixar management rumored refusal to deal with ME directly, the trust factor is probably so low they feel the need to be on the board. If ME refuses, then he would be seen as acting in his best interests not Disneys. And that is the stuff that shareholder lawsuits are made of.