FILE: Bob Chapek (left), then-CEO of Walt Disney, and Bob Iger, then-Executive Chairman of Walt Disney, speak during “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary at Magic Kingdom on Sept. 30. 2021 in Orlando, Florida.
Gerardo Mora/Getty Images
A CNBC exposé alleges that the power struggle at the helm of The Walt Disney Company between Bob Iger and Bob Chapek was even more tense, awkward and downright weird than previously reported.
The story by reporter Alex Sherman, who spoke to more than two dozen people who worked with both executives, sheds light on Iger’s struggles of being half-in and half-out at Disney. Iger first rose to power during the fall of Disney CEO Michael Eisner. At first lauded for his large-scale creative projects, in the early 2000s, Eisner began to be hated within the company, especially after the disastrous failure of Euro Disney. Among the board members who pushed him out was Roy E. Disney himself. In 2005, Eisner resigned and Iger stepped in.
Like Eisner, Iger was a chief executive who took pride in being involved with the creatives at the company. He was also a believer in acquisitions, having won the rights to the Marvel and “Star Wars” franchises during his tenure. In 2020, after 15 years at the helm, Iger announced he was stepping down in favor of his chosen successor, Chapek, who was then president of the Disney Parks Division.
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According to Sherman’s report, this is where things went awry. For one, the story claims that Iger didn’t want to vacate his Burbank office immediately, allegedly because it had a private bathroom that he used to shower between workouts, office meetings, and evening red-carpet events. Often used to But perhaps the strangest anecdote comes from Iger’s 2021 goodbye party, which was attended by celebrities from Iger’s star-studded social life, such as Steven Spielberg and Robin Roberts.
“Iger reluctantly invited Chapek. According to people familiar with his state of mind at the time, he was relieved when he learned that Chapek had given a speech on the set of Walt Disney World. He didn’t want Chapek to get involved – and the feeling was mutual. Chapek’s first impulse was to decline. But he knew it would be terrible if he didn’t attend, so he canceled his plans in Orlando.
At the time of Chapek’s abrupt cancellation in November 2021, there was media coverage of his no-show. “Bob had an altercation in Los Angeles on Friday night and was unable to return to Orlando in time,” he said through a spokesperson.
The party was reportedly not a pleasant one for Chapek. CNBC reported, “Iger was seated next to Spielberg, while Chapek sat at the far opposite table, clearly unhappy.” It didn’t escape the attendees that Iger thanked dozens of people in his speech — but not Chapek. It was humiliating, but Chapek told friends that he felt relieved that tensions had come out in the open.
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“The whole episode also exposed the limits of ‘Disney nice,’” Sherman wrote in reference to Disney’s well-known workplace preference for polite and positive communication. “Avoiding face-to-face conflict, at least at the CEO and board level, fostered an environment where Iger and Chapek could not work out their differences.”
It is unclear how long Iger will remain sole chief executive of The Walt Disney Company. His contact was recently extended through the end of 2026, and CNBC reports that the company hopes to choose his successor sometime in 2025.
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