Disney’s board mentioned it expects to announce a CEO successor to Bob Iger in early 2026 — however the guessing recreation about who will take the throne on the Magic Kingdom is already smartly underneath method.
The media corporate enlisted headhunting company Heidrick & Struggles to vet applicants out of doors of Disney, and the company has recognized 3 possible applicants, together with Digital Arts CEO Andrew Wilson, the Wall Side road Magazine reported, bringing up nameless resources. Selection showed that EA’s Wilson is within the combine, however it stays very early within the procedure. Reps for Disney and EA declined to remark.
In October, Disney named James Gorman, who’s main the board’s CEO seek committee, as chairman efficient Jan. 2, 2025, taking on the position from Nike govt chairman Mark Parker. The corporate mentioned the committee expects to announce a CEO successor in early 2026. That signaled that Disney intends to appear past the 4 department bosses who have been observed as most probably applicants: Disney Leisure co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro and Josh D’Amaro, head of Disney Parks, Studies and Merchandise.
Wilson, a local of Australia, has served as chairman and CEO of EA since 2013. Previous to changing into CEO, he served as govt VP of EA Sports activities and Beginning the place he led the worldwide EA Sports activities trade, in addition to EA’s virtual PC carrier. Previous to that he led all sides of EA’s On-line Group, together with the corporate’s Asia trade operations and direct-to-consumer products and services. Wilson additionally served as VP and govt manufacturer of all EA Sports activities FIFA video games.
In step with the Magazine file, Wilson in 2018 interviewed for the highest process at ESPN ahead of it went to Pitaro. As well as, when Bob Chapek used to be CEO of Disney, Wilson engaged in talks “about doubtlessly promoting EA to Disney, however the negotiations didn’t result in a deal,” in line with the Magazine.
Gorman is govt chairman of Morgan Stanley and as prior to now introduced he’s going to be stepping down from that position on Dec. 31, 2024. He oversaw the hot succession procedure at Morgan Stanley, the place he had prior to now served because the company’s CEO. In August, the board tapped Gorman to guide the CEO succession committee, taking on the position from Parker.
“A important precedence ahead of us is to nominate a brand new CEO, which we now be expecting to announce in early 2026,” Gorman mentioned in a observation remaining month equipped via Disney. “This timing displays the growth the succession making plans committee and the board are making, and can permit abundant time for a a hit transition ahead of the belief of Bob Iger’s contract in December 2026.”
The problem of CEO succession at Disney used to be a flash level within the protracted proxy struggle introduced via activist investor Nelson Peltz, who alleged Disney’s board did not do its process with recognize to CEO succession making plans in no longer vetting Chapek, who used to be Iger’s non-public pick out to take over the process in 2020. The board ousted Chapek in November 2022 and Iger returned as CEO. Peltz in the end misplaced his bid to shake up Disney’s board (looking for seats for himself and previous Disney CFO Jay Rasulo) and previous this 12 months reportedly offered all his Disney stocks.
