The biggest job in entertainment is going to be vacant in a little over two years. Bob Iger is set to step down, again , as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company at the end of 2026. Who the next CEO of the company could be is far from clear.
There are four different strong candidates who work at the House of Mouse right now that are reportedly in the running, but it’s possible that none of them could end up getting the job. It's previously been reported that inside Disney, the CEO succession battle is between ESPN chief Jim Pitaro, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amato, and the co-heads of Walt Disney Studios, Dana Walden and Alan Horn. However, A report in the Wall Street Journal this morning confirms something that had been suspected, that the Disney Board of Directors is considering possible candidates from outside of TWDC.
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson has been named specifically as a potential choice. As a big Disney fan, and a frequent theme park visitor, I’m pretty strongly invested in this CEO search, and while I understand there’s potential value in bringing somebody in from the outside, I have some serious concerns. I Want A CEO Who Understands Theme Parks, Movies And Merch As Well As How They're Supposed To Work Together Disney is a multi-headed hydra that's quite different from most entertainment companies.
It’s a movie studio and also a theme park company. A massive chunk of its revenue comes not from either of those, but from the merchandise that’s.
