Bob Iger has stepped down as Star Wars and Indiana Jones) in 2012 and, of course, their $71.3 billion acquisition of Fox's movie and TV assets in March 2019.
Apple+ launching the same month as Disney+). Now, in an unexpected development, Iger has decided to depart as CEO a little earlier than anticipated.
CNN is reporting Iger is stepping down as Disney CEO effective immediately, but will remain onboard as executive chairman through to the end of 2021. Chapek, who's served as Disney Parks' Chairman since 2018 and was the head of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for three years before that, has replaced him, making Chapek the seventh CEO in the company's history. In an official statement, Iger explained "With the successful launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO".
Thanks to the purchases Iger oversaw, Fox 2000 shutting down altogether).
It will be interesting to see how Disney fares over these next few years, as Chapek settles into his new role at the company. While the Mouse reports Disney+ has been a success in the U.S. (having secured 26.5 million paying subscribers so far), the streamer has been criticized for a lack of must-watch original titles outside of rollout in markets like the U.K. this spring). Similarly, with the Star Wars movies on hiatus until 2022 and the MCU introducing untested comic book superheroes like The Eternals and Shang-Chi while launching its first Disney+ TV series in Phase 4, Chapek will face some new challenges as CEO right out of the gate.
Source: CNN
