Bob Iger

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Bob Iger
BornRobert Alan Iger
10 2, 1951
BirthplaceNew York City, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationMedia executive
TitleChief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company
Known forCEO of The Walt Disney Company
Spouse(s)Template:Plainlist
AwardsTemplate:Plainlist
Website[https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/leaders/robert-a-iger/ Official site]

Robert Alan Iger (born February 10, 1951) is an American media executive who serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company. Over the course of a career spanning more than five decades in the media industry, Iger rose from a studio supervisor at a local television station to lead one of the largest entertainment conglomerates in the world. He served as president of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) from 1994 to 1995, and as president and chief operating officer (COO) of Capital Cities/ABC from 1995 until its acquisition by Disney in 1996.[1] Named president of Disney in 2000, Iger succeeded Michael Eisner as CEO in 2005, a position he held until 2020.[2][3] During his initial 15-year tenure as CEO, Iger oversaw the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel Entertainment, Lucasfilm, and the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox, and the company's market capitalization grew from $56 billion to $231 billion. After serving as executive chairman until his formal retirement on December 31, 2021, Iger returned to the CEO role on November 20, 2022, following the dismissal of his successor, Bob Chapek. In February 2026, Disney announced that Iger would be succeeded as CEO by Josh D'Amaro on March 18, 2026.[4]

Early Life

Robert Alan Iger was born on February 10, 1951, in New York City, New York.[1] He grew up on Long Island, where he attended local schools. Details regarding his parents and family background indicate a middle-class upbringing in the New York metropolitan area.[1]

Iger developed an interest in media and broadcasting from a young age. After completing his secondary education on Long Island, he pursued higher education at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, where he studied television and radio.[1] His time at Ithaca College provided him with foundational experience in the broadcasting industry that would shape his subsequent career trajectory.

Education

Iger attended Ithaca College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in television and radio from the Roy H. Park School of Communications.[1] His education at Ithaca College provided practical training in broadcast media, which served as a launching point for his entry into the television industry upon graduation.

Career

Early Television Career

Iger began his career in television in 1972 as a studio supervisor at a local cable television station in Ithaca, New York.[1] He subsequently joined the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), where he would spend the next two and a half decades rising through the organization's ranks. At ABC, Iger held a series of progressively senior positions across the network's various divisions.

In 1989, ABC named Iger as president of ABC Entertainment, a significant promotion that placed him in charge of the network's programming strategy.[5] In this role, Iger oversaw the network's prime-time and daytime programming schedules and was responsible for guiding ABC's content strategy during a competitive period in broadcast television.

President of ABC and Capital Cities/ABC

By 1993, Iger had been elevated to a broader leadership role at ABC, overseeing multiple divisions within the company as the network restructured its operations.[6] He was named president of ABC in 1994, and following the merger with Capital Cities Communications, served as president and chief operating officer (COO) of Capital Cities/ABC from 1995.[1]

Iger's tenure at Capital Cities/ABC coincided with a transformative period in the media industry. In 1996, The Walt Disney Company acquired Capital Cities/ABC in a landmark deal, bringing the ABC television network, its owned-and-operated stations, the ESPN cable sports networks, and other media properties under the Disney corporate umbrella. Following the acquisition, Iger continued in senior leadership roles within Disney's media networks division, serving as chairman of the ABC Group and president of Walt Disney International.[1]

Rise to Disney CEO

In January 2000, Iger was named president and chief operating officer of The Walt Disney Company, placing him as the second-ranking executive at the corporation behind then-CEO Michael Eisner.[2] This appointment positioned Iger as a potential successor to Eisner, though the succession question would not be resolved for several years.

The early 2000s were a turbulent period for Disney. Eisner faced a shareholder revolt led by former board members Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold, who launched a "Save Disney" campaign criticizing Eisner's management of the company. In the midst of this internal upheaval, Disney's board of directors selected Iger to succeed Eisner as CEO, effective October 1, 2005.[3] The appointment was met with some skepticism from analysts and observers who questioned whether Iger, as Eisner's handpicked deputy, would chart a sufficiently different course for the company.[7]

First Tenure as CEO (2005–2020)

Iger's initial tenure as CEO of Disney was defined by a series of large-scale acquisitions that fundamentally reshaped the company's portfolio of intellectual properties and its position in the entertainment industry.

Acquisition of Pixar

One of Iger's first major strategic moves was the acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios in 2006 for approximately $7.4 billion in an all-stock transaction. The deal brought Pixar's acclaimed animation talent and technology, as well as franchises such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles, fully under Disney's ownership. The acquisition also brought Steve Jobs, Pixar's majority shareholder, onto Disney's board of directors and installed Pixar leadership, including John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, at the helm of Walt Disney Animation Studios. This move was credited with revitalizing Disney's struggling in-house animation division.[1]

Acquisition of Marvel Entertainment

In August 2009, Disney announced the acquisition of Marvel Entertainment for approximately $4 billion. The deal gave Disney ownership of Marvel's vast library of comic book characters, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the X-Men, among thousands of others. The acquisition laid the groundwork for Disney to capitalize on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which would become one of the highest-grossing film franchises in cinema history.[1]

Acquisition of Lucasfilm

In October 2012, Disney announced its acquisition of Lucasfilm from founder George Lucas for approximately $4.06 billion in a combination of cash and stock. The deal gave Disney ownership of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, among other properties.[8] Disney subsequently announced plans for a new trilogy of Star Wars films, the first of which, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, was released in December 2015 to both critical and commercial success. The Lucasfilm acquisition also led to the development of Star Wars-themed attractions at Disney's theme parks.[9]

Acquisition of 21st Century Fox Assets

The largest acquisition of Iger's tenure came in March 2019, when Disney completed its purchase of the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox for approximately $71.3 billion. The deal brought 20th Century Fox's film and television studios, the FX Networks cable channels, National Geographic Partners, Fox's international television businesses, and a controlling stake in the Hulu streaming service under Disney's ownership. The acquisition significantly expanded Disney's content library and production capabilities and positioned the company as a dominant force in both traditional and streaming media.

Theme Park Expansion

Under Iger's leadership, Disney significantly expanded its theme park resort operations, particularly in East Asia. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort opened in 2005, and Shanghai Disney Resort, which Iger championed as a major strategic initiative, opened in June 2016. The Shanghai resort represented one of the largest foreign investments in China's history and marked a significant expansion of Disney's international footprint.[10]

Launch of Disney+

Iger was a central figure in Disney's push into the direct-to-consumer streaming business. In November 2019, Disney launched Disney+, a subscription streaming service featuring content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. The service attracted millions of subscribers in its first year and signaled a major strategic shift for the company toward digital distribution. Combined with Disney's majority ownership of Hulu and the ESPN+ service, the launch of Disney+ established Disney as a major competitor in the streaming wars alongside Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and others.

Contract Extensions

Iger's contract as CEO was extended multiple times over the course of his tenure. In 2014, Disney extended his contract through June 2018.[11][12] The question of succession became a recurring topic among analysts and the media, with reports noting the difficulty Disney faced in identifying a suitable replacement.[13] His contract was further extended through 2019 and then through 2021.[14]

Executive Chairman and Retirement (2020–2021)

On February 25, 2020, Disney announced that Iger would step down as CEO, effective immediately, and that Bob Chapek, then chairman of Disney's Parks, Experiences and Products division, would succeed him. Iger remained with the company as executive chairman, overseeing creative endeavors and the board of directors, through the end of 2021. His formal retirement from The Walt Disney Company took effect on December 31, 2021.[1]

Return as CEO (2022–2026)

On November 20, 2022, Disney's board of directors announced that Iger would return to the company as CEO, replacing Chapek, who was dismissed. The board cited the need for experienced leadership during a challenging period for the company, which was facing declining stock performance, losses in its streaming business, and internal organizational issues. In July 2023, Disney renewed Iger's contract through 2026.[4]

During his second tenure, Iger undertook a significant restructuring of Disney's operations, implemented cost-cutting measures, and refocused the company's strategy. In February 2026, Disney announced that Iger's successor would be Josh D'Amaro, the chairman of Disney's Parks, Experiences and Products division, with the transition scheduled for March 18, 2026.[4] Reports indicated that Iger had told associates he planned to step down before his contract expired.[15]

The selection of D'Amaro drew criticism from activist investor Nelson Peltz, who accused Iger of manipulating the succession plan to retain influence at the company.[16]

During the final months of his second tenure, Iger also oversaw Disney's partnership with OpenAI to integrate AI-generated video content via OpenAI's Sora tool into the Disney+ platform, stating that the arrangement would not affect Disney's other programming.[17]

As of February 2026, Iger has also been floated as a potential replacement for Casey Wasserman as chair of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee.[18]

Political Activities

In June 2017, Iger resigned from President Donald Trump's business advisory council following the Trump administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change.[19] Iger had previously been reported as a supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaigns, hosting fundraising events in Beverly Hills, California.[20]

Personal Life

Iger was married to his first wife, Susan Iger, from 1977 until their divorce in 1994. The couple have two daughters together, including Kathleen Iger, whose 2005 wedding was reported in The New York Times.[21]

In 1995, Iger married Willow Bay, a journalist and television personality who later became dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Their wedding was reported in The New York Times.[22] Iger and Bay have two sons together.

Recognition

During his career, Iger has received numerous awards and honors for his leadership in the media industry. He has been named to the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world on multiple occasions. He has also received Emmy Award recognition for his contributions to the television industry.

Iger's acquisitions strategy at Disney — bringing Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox under the Disney corporate umbrella — has been the subject of extensive analysis and commentary in the business and entertainment press. During his initial 15-year tenure as CEO, Disney's market capitalization increased from approximately $56 billion to $231 billion, a metric frequently cited in evaluations of his stewardship of the company.[1]

His appearances have been documented on C-SPAN, where he has participated in various public events and discussions related to the media industry and business leadership.[23]

Legacy

Iger's tenure at Disney reshaped the company from a media conglomerate reliant primarily on its legacy animation and theme park businesses into a diversified entertainment powerhouse with dominant positions in film, television, streaming, and live entertainment. The four major acquisitions he led — Pixar (2006), Marvel Entertainment (2009), Lucasfilm (2012), and 21st Century Fox (2019) — collectively cost approximately $86.8 billion and brought some of the most valuable intellectual properties in entertainment under a single corporate roof.

The transition to streaming under Iger's direction, culminating in the launch of Disney+ in 2019, represented a fundamental shift in Disney's business model and a recognition of the changing landscape of media consumption. His decision to return as CEO in 2022, after the brief and turbulent tenure of his successor Bob Chapek, underscored both the challenges of leadership succession at major corporations and Iger's centrality to Disney's identity and strategy during the 21st century.

As Iger prepares to hand the CEO role to Josh D'Amaro in March 2026, his departure marks the end of an era in which a single executive's strategic vision guided Disney through some of the most significant transformations in the company's nearly century-long history.[4][24]

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "Robert Iger 1951– Biography".Reference for Business.http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/F-L/Iger-Robert-1951.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Iger tapped No. 2 as Mouse TV booms".Variety.2000.https://variety.com/2000/biz/news/iger-tapped-no-2-as-mouse-tv-booms-1117765636/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Disney Names Iger as New Chief".The Washington Post.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32493-2005Mar13.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Disney names parks boss Josh D'Amaro as new CEO to replace Bob Iger".CNN.2026-02-03.https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/03/media/disney-new-ceo-josh-damaro-bob-iger.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "ABC Names Its President of Entertainment".The New York Times.1989-03-24.https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/24/arts/abc-names-its-president-of-entertainment.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "ABC ups Iger, regroups divisions".Variety.1993.https://variety.com/1993/scene/news/abc-ups-iger-regroups-divisions-108981/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Bob Iger's dilemma".The Economist.http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5442077.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—And Its Plans for 'Star Wars'".Bloomberg Businessweek.2013-03-07.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-03-07/how-disney-bought-lucasfilm-and-its-plans-for-star-wars.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Star Wars, Shanghai Disney".Los Angeles Times.2016-03-08.http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-star-wars-shanghai-disney-20160308-story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Star Wars, Shanghai Disney".Los Angeles Times.2016-03-08.http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-star-wars-shanghai-disney-20160308-story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Disney extends Bob Iger contract through 2018".Variety.2014-10-02.https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/disney-extends-bob-iger-contract-through-2018-1201319561/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Disney Extends Bob Iger's Contract Until 2018".The Wall Street Journal.2014-10-02.https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-extends-bob-igers-contract-until-2018-1412273135.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Disney's Dilemma: Can Bob Iger Ever Find a Successor?".The Hollywood Reporter.http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneys-dilemma-can-bob-iger-ever-find-a-successor-989599.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Disney CEO succession".Reuters.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disney-ceo-idUSKBN16U23I.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Iger Has Told Associates He Plans to Leave CEO Role Before Contract Expires".The Wall Street Journal.2026-02.https://www.wsj.com/business/media/iger-has-told-associates-he-plans-to-leave-ceo-role-before-contract-expires-35406a7b?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfBDy0nXVWoMzEmoMJUqGtVoQsm6jEMk19htWS1VVLwAcJ18kZM2fwZ&gaa_ts=699cf6ad&gaa_sig=AKxzi2xihwyR9uKUMO3hyP8HcWzg7Jpa_-GdQf28AsulDJ7Mu_dmDs3dDN63SHvaJegy9QIKSO7y4PNMkeQxUA%3D%3D.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Nelson Peltz Accuses Bob Iger of Backing Josh D'Amaro as CEO to Retain Power at Disney".Variety.2026-02.https://variety.com/2026/film/news/nelson-peltz-accuses-bob-iger-josh-damaro-disney-1236651272/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Disney's OpenAI Video Pact Will Not Affect Its Other Programming, CEO Bob Iger Says".Deadline Hollywood.2026-02.https://deadline.com/2026/02/disney-openai-sora-video-bob-iger-1236705948/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "Report: Bob Iger floated as potential replacement for Casey Wasserman as LA28 chair".Sports Business Journal.2026-02-23.https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/02/23/report-bob-iger-floated-as-potential-replacement-for-casey-wasserman-as-la28-chair/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Disney CEO Bob Iger Resigns From Trump's Advisory Council Over Paris Accord Decision".Variety.2017-06-01.https://variety.com/2017/film/news/disney-ceo-bob-iger-resigns-from-trumps-advisory-council-over-paris-accord-decision-1202451184/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Hillary Clinton Fundraisers Coming to Beverly Hills".Beverly Hills Courier.http://bhcourier.com/beverly-hills-news-hillary-clinton-fundraisers-coming-to-beverly-hills/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Kathleen Iger and Jarrod Cushing".The New York Times.2005-09-25.https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/fashion/weddings/kathleen-iger-and-jarrod-cushing.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Willow Bay and Robert Iger".The New York Times.1995-10-08.https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/08/style/willow-bay-and-robert-iger.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "Robert Iger".C-SPAN.http://www.c-span.org/person/?robertiger.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "Bob Iger once fought to keep control at Disney. This time, he's stepping aside early.".Business Insider.2026-02.https://www.businessinsider.com/why-bob-iger-stepped-down-early-josh-damaro-disney-ceo-2026-2.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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