Bob Iger will be staying until 2026, which is two years longer than planned, so Disney has more time to find the right CEO to replace him? What do you think? Is this a good idea or do you think this means Iger is staying forever?
I’m sure he doesn’t want to stay forever. Chapek was pretty terrible at his job and the Board talked Iger into coming back to right the ship as best he can before they bring in the next person. I’m not a big fan of Iger, but there’s no question he grew the company and is better than Chapek. I’m old, though, and really miss the pre-Eisner era of the parks.
I personally thought their best leaders was when they had Eisner (creative) and Frank Wells (business). Heck you could argue it was also Walt (creative) and his brother for business. Disney just seems to work better when those two different brains/roles are held by two different people.
I totally agree. While Wells was alive, he was someone who could provide his input freely and Eisner respected it. After he was gone, there wasn’t anyone around who was able to tell Eisner if an idea was bad.
The parks were still pretty great under Ron Miller/Card Walker, too, and OG EPCOT Center was fantastic. There were still lots of folks around who had worked for Walt.
Ever since Wells died, the company grew, but seemed to lose its heart. Now, it’s all about increasing shareholder value at the expense of making every guest feel special. It’s all about how much cash they can wring out of you and “magic” is only available for an extra fee.
Pardon my grumpiness. I just miss the Disney parks of yesteryear. I know I’m not representative of the average visitor today. I try and enjoy what remains from my youth and leave the thrill rides to those who prefer them. Times change.
