Last week, media moguls from across the industry attended Allen & Co.’s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. The event, dubbed “summer camp for billionaires,” brings together some of the wealthiest people on the planet to discuss the future of the world.
Several major topics were on the agenda for this week, including how AI will take over the world and how Trump’s presidency will impact the future of their industries. However, one of the major topics was Disney’s plan of succession.
All of the major players made their way to Idaho, including Disney CEO Bob Iger, Disney Co-Chairpeople of Media Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, Disney Parks head Josh D’Amaro, and ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro. Even former Disney CEO Michael Eisner made the trip. Disney brought all the big guns, just short of former CEO Bob Chapek.
So, after a week of meetings and chances to audition for the media’s bigwigs, which of the four frontrunners had the lead? The answer: none of the above.
Variety, which spent the week covering the event, devised a surprise angle that some Disney fans might dislike. Variety wrote:
Disney has promised to name its successor to Iger by early 2026. That means all eyes will be on Alan Bergman, Josh D’Amaro, Jimmy Pitaro and Dana Walden, all viewed as potential candidates, as they follow Iger around the resort for any sign of who is currently the fairest of them all. As for Iger, who was lured back to his old gig after his first successor, Bob Chapek, flamed out, is this really farewell?
At the end, Variety raised the possibility that Iger may not retire after his current contract expires at the end of 2026. It’s not outside of the realm of possibility.
Iger returned after retiring once, when his ill-fated predecessor Bob Chapek couldn’t do the job. Type A personalities like Iger can’t sit around fishing, so it’s not a terrible idea that he could return.
It also raised the possibility that the Disney Board isn’t impressed with the four internal candidates. Each one lacks experience in some aspect of the business.
Walden and Bergman lack the parks experience necessary to run the company’s most profitable aspect. D’Amaro lacks the experience in streaming and films that Walden and Bergman have. Pitaro lacks experience in both parks and movies.
When his contract expires, Iger will be 75. Can he guide Disney for another five years while the candidates get more seasoning? It’s possible.
However, with Variety reporting it, this could be Iger laying the foundation for a longer stay at the head of The Walt Disney Company.
What do you think of the possibility of Bob Iger staying as Disney’s CEO? Let us know in the comments.
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