Bob Iger may be exiting the Mouse House before his CEO contract expires at the end of the year.
Iger has told “associates” that he plans to step down as CEO and “pull back from daily management” before the Dec. 31, 2026, end of his contract, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing anonymous sources. Per the Journal story, Iger has told “people close to him that he is ready to move on from the grind of being CEO” — and that he was “frustrated” by “conflicts” at ABC over the nearly weeklong suspension of Jimmy Kimmel in September over on-air remarks the late-night host made about Charlie Kirk’s killer.
Variety has reached out to Disney for comment.
The board of Disney has said it expects to announce Iger’s successor “in early 2026.” The board of directors is planning to meet next week at Disney’s Burbank headquarters, where they are “expected to vote on who should take the top job,” the Journal reported.
“The appointment of the next CEO will be determined by the full Board, and we currently expect to announce the appointment of the Company’s next CEO in early 2026,” Disney chairman James Gorman said in Disney’s 2026 proxy statement, filed last week.
The company did not identify which execs are on the shortlist but said, “Each internal candidate is going through a rigorous preparation process, including mentorship from Mr. Iger, external coaching and engagement with all Directors.”
The two leading candidates to become Disney’s next CEO, according to analysts tracking the situation, are Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, who oversees the company’s parks, cruises and consumer products, and Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, whose purview includes the global streaming business. (For what it’s worth, online betting markets are heavily favoring D’Amaro.)
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The WSJ report also said Iger has told several associates that “he would like to spend more of his time and energy on other things, such as sailing his new and larger superyacht, the Aquarius,” which was delivered to him last summer. In addition, Iger has said he wants to dedicate more time working with his wife, Willow Bay, who is the dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and on Angel City FC, the women’s soccer team the couple bought a controlling stake in two years ago.
Iger, after serving as CEO of Disney for 15 years, previously retired at the end of 2021 and was replaced by then-CEO Bob Chapek. But in November 2022, the board ousted Chapek and brought Iger back as chief exec.
In 2025, Iger’s total compensation was $45.8 million, up 11.5%. That included Disney stock awards worth $21 million, $14 million in stock options, a $7.25 million cash bonus and $2.59 million in other compensation (including $1.85 million for security and $568,670 for personal air travel).
Iger is up for reelection to Disney’s board at the 2026 annual shareholders meeting for a one-year term. The meeting will be held virtually on March 18.
Iger “has an unmatched knowledge of the Company and the creative content it produces, and an in-depth understanding of fostering innovation through technology and connecting to audiences in our markets around the world,” Disney said in the proxy statement.
From Variety US