A new article has provided more information on the ongoing search for a successor to Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger.
Jimmy Pitaro No Longer on List of CEO Candidates
The new article by Bloomberg provides a little more information on the continued search for the perfect replacement for current Disney CEO Bob Iger. With no major announcements, rumors have swirled around several of the individuals who may be in line for the position. Previously, we reported that the Disney Board of Directors was favoring a short list of four internal candidates. This list included Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, Dana Walden; Chairman of ESPN and Sports Content, Jimmy Pitaro; Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, Josh D’Amaro; and Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, Alan Bergman.
Reports in 2024 indicated Dana Walden was considered the frontrunner for the CEO position, while other rumors have pushed D’Amaro’s name forward. Both candidates have their weaknesses, however, as D’Amaro has little experience with the media side of the company, while Walden is less familiar with “the Wall Street side of being a CEO.”
Nonetheless, Bloomberg has now indicated that one of these four main names is now out of the running. According to their report, Jimmy Pitaro has expressed his wishes to not be considered as the next Disney CEO, “Pitaro has communicated to both friends and the board that he’s not interested in the role.”
The article also mentions that Alan Bergman is not seen as being on equal footing as the other two candidates, leaving the main internal frontrunners as D’Amaro and Walden, “Bergman, though Walden’s equal in the organizational structure, has never been seen as an equal rival for the top job.”
With only two names remaining from internal sources, some rumors persist that Disney may look to outside companies for potential candidates. In late 2024, the name of Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts (EA), was cited by the Wall Street Journal as being an option on the list.
While original rumors suggested the CEO-to-be would get announced by the end of 2024, Disney has now indicated the announcement will likely come in early 2026. In January of 2025, the Walt Disney Company named James Gorman of Morgan Stanley as the head of a committee focused on helping to choose the new CEO. The search is definitely picking up speed, as Iger’s contract is set to end in December of 2026.
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