NEWS: Iger’s Close Associate Shares Predictions About NEW Disney CEO

The Walt Disney Company is in need of a new CEO. The current CEO, Bob Iger, agreed to stay on through December 31st, 2026 (about two years longer than initially planned), but the clock is ticking, and we still don’t know who will replace him.

Experts have been sharing their predictions for months, but Disney has not confirmed anything quite yet. But, could big news be coming soon? With Disney’s major fan event (the 2024 D23 Expo) coming this August, could Iger announce his successor sometime this year?

Candle Media co-founder Kevin Mayer, a former Iger associate who helped launch Disney+ and briefly acted as the CEO of TikTok, recently spoke with Yahoo Finance. During his conversation, Mayer commented on the future of The Walt Disney Company — more specifically, on when we might learn more about a new CEO. 

Mayer explained, “I think we may know this year, but [Iger] has two and a half more years. So it wouldn’t surprise me if it is extended a little bit beyond this calendar year into next calendar year,” according to Yahoo Finance.

Now, as we mentioned, Iger will not leave his position until 2026. That said, many predict Disney will announce the successor prior to Iger’s departure to give the replacement a chance to work with the CEO. Mayer predicted we will learn more soon, adding, “In the not-too-distant future, he’s going to make it known who a successor is so he has some time to spend with him or her at the helm,” per Yahoo Finance.

At this time, many believe Disney is considering four internal candidates, including  Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment; Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks chair; Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN; and Alan Bergman, the other co-chair of Disney Entertainment.

Executives Predict Who Will Take Over for Bob Iger as CEO of The Walt Disney Company

One media executive predicted that  Walden, who currently serves as co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, may become the new CEO. In this case, people predict Iger could move into a chairman role as he did when Bob Chapek took over in 2020.

That said, there are even some theorists who believe Kevin Mayer himself may take over as CEO. In fact, Mayer was brought on to help “advise on the future of Disney’s legacy TV businesses.”

Iger has also commented on the process of choosing a new CEO and has said, “We’ve learned from the past,” adding, “We’re focused on the future not the past. We can’t do anything about what happened; we just have to make sure it doesn’t happen again” in response to criticism about the decision to appoint CEO Bob Chapek as Iger’s original successor in 2020.

‘We Just Have to Make Sure It Doesn’t Happen Again’ — Disney CEO Bob Iger Comments on His Successor

So, what do you think? Could Disney make an announcement during D23? Wait until the end of the year? Save the news for 2025?  We’ll have to wait and see! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

Read more about the possible CEO candidates HERE!