Bob Iger\u2019s keeping tight-lipped on who might succeed him as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company as he is set to leave at the end of 2026. But he did share some thoughts on what qualities he hopes the next person in charge will have. <\/p>\n
Iger appeared on the British podcast \u201cThe Rest Is History\u201d in an episode that focused on the legacy of Walt Disney and the 70th anniversary of Disneyland, which Iger gave hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook a private tour of. <\/p>\n
But the conversation did turn to the question of Iger\u2019s successor, whom Disney is expected to name sometime early next year. Among the suspected candidates from within the company are Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden and Disney Experiences chair Josh D\u2019Amaro.<\/p>\n
Iger previously left the company at the end of 2021 after picking Disney parks chief Bob Chapek as his successor, but was back in November 2022 after a short and tumultuous run for Chapek. Iger did not mention that period during the interview, but did provide some general thoughts on what he believed should be his next successor\u2019s guiding star. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe world is changing so rapidly and in such profound ways. As I think about the future, I would hope that my successors would be respectful of our past and well aware of the values that really created the value of the company in the first place, and carry them forward, but not let anything that\u2019s been done in the past get in the way of bringing the company into the future,\u201d Iger said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s really constant innovation, a constant exploration, constant desire to reinvent or to invent even more than anything else. That\u2019s what I\u2019d want. But I think we do occupy a place in the world as great storytellers, perhaps maybe the greatest in many respects. And I would hope that position would continue for years and years, decades ahead,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
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![\"James-Gorman\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thewrap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/James-Gorman-copy.jpg?fit=300%2C169&quality=89&ssl=1\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\nAs for how he\u2019d like to be remembered, Iger said that he would hope that he\u2019d be remembered as someone who helped usher Disney to \u201ca place that even Walt would be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat that means is more great storytelling to a larger audience, more innovation, more risk-taking, more really creation of happiness. It\u2019s really that simple,\u201d Iger said. \u201cAt one point I thought, Well, OK, you\u2019re now running Disney. What\u2019s the most you want out of it?<\/em> Well, not don\u2019t screw it up, but it\u2019s much more than that. I really have been mindful of the duty that I feel has been handed to me to make it even better than it\u2019s ever been.\u201d<\/p>\n Listen to Iger\u2019s interview on \u201cThe Rest is History\u201d here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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