Bob Iger may leave the Mouse House before his CEO contract expires at the end of the year.
Mr. Iger told “stakeholders” that he plans to step down as CEO and “step back from day-to-day management” by the end of his contract on Dec. 31, 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing anonymous sources. The newspaper reported that Iger told those close to him that he was “ready to move on from being a CEO,” and that he was “frustrated” by the “conflict” within ABC over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension for nearly a week over the late-night host’s on-air comments about Charlie Kirk’s killer in September.
Variety has reached out to Disney for comment.
Disney’s board of directors said it plans to announce Iger’s replacement “in early 2026.” The board is scheduled to meet next week at Disney’s Burbank headquarters, where it “will vote on who should take the top job,” the newspaper reported.
“The appointment of our next CEO will be determined by the full Board of Directors, and we currently plan to announce the appointment of our next CEO in early 2026,” Disney Chairman James Gorman said in Disney’s 2026 proxy statement filed last week.
The company did not say which executives would be on the shortlist, but said: “Each internal candidate goes through a rigorous preparation process, including mentorship from Mr. Iger, external coaching and engagement with all board members.”
Analysts tracking the situation say the two leading candidates to become Disney’s next CEO are Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experience, which oversees the company’s parks, cruises and consumer products, and Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, which oversees the company’s global streaming operations. (As a matter of fact, the online betting market is heavily favoring D’Amaro.)
WSJ reported that Iger told multiple people that he wanted to spend more time and energy on other things, including sailing his new superyacht Aquarius, which was delivered last summer. Additionally, Iger said he wants to spend more time with his wife, Willow Bay, dean of the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, and Angel City FC, the women’s soccer team the couple took control of two years ago.
Iger will retire at the end of 2021 after serving as Disney’s CEO for 15 years, and will be replaced by then-CEO Bob Chapek. However, in November 2022, the board fired Mr. Capek and reinstated Mr. Iger as chief executive officer.
Mr. Iger’s total compensation in 2025 increased by 11.5% to $45.8 million. This includes $21 million in Disney stock bonuses, $14 million in stock options, $7.25 million in cash bonuses, and $2.59 million in other compensation, including $1.85 million in security fees and $568,670 in personal air travel expenses.
Mr. Iger will be re-elected to Disney’s Board of Directors at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders for a one-year term. The meeting will be held virtually on March 18th.
Disney said in its proxy statement that Iger has “unparalleled knowledge of our company and the creative content we produce, and a deep understanding of how technology drives innovation and connects with audiences in markets around the world.”
