The Walt Disney Company may have found a new candidate to succeed CEO Bob Iger: Bob Chapek.
- Bloomberg: Chapek emerges as likely successor to Disney CEO Iger
- Chapek heads Disney's theme parks division
- Oversaw openings of Shanghai Disney and Pandora
The Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman has emerged as a contender, according to Bloomberg.
The report cites “people familiar with the company.”
Chapek has worked at Disney for 24 years. In that time, he held roles in consumer products and the film studio. Most recently, he took over the theme-parks division in 2015.
Since then, he’s overseen the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort, Pandora-The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando and a “Guardians of the Galaxy” attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim.
In July, at Disney’s D23 Expo, Chapek announced a slew of new attractions for the parks, including a “Tron” coaster for Magic Kingdom and a “Guardians of the Galaxy” coaster for Epcot.
The company is also bracing for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a 14-acre themed land, at Disneyland and Disney World.
Iger is set to retire in 2019, so the company is feeling the pressure to find his replacement. The 66-year-old, who became CEO in 2005, has postponed retirement three times after potential successors left the company. Heir apparent Tom Staggs abruptly left last year, leading to another contract extension by Iger.
Numerous successes at the parks has set Chapek apart.
Disney disclosed its fiscal year-end results earlier this month. Chapek’s unit was the only one to post an increase in sales and profit.
No formal decision has been made, according to the report.
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