The Man in Charge
Robert Iger has talked about stepping down from the Walt Disney Company for at least 5 years. Rather, there’s been a public awareness, at least in the business sector, for 5 years (though it could have been a lot longer) that he was planning for an effective succession plan to ensure his legacy.
So, when he did announce his departure as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company on February 25, it wasn’t technically a surprise. He’d made clear that he wanted to leave at some point soon, and “some point soon” had been a long time coming. His new title, executive chairman, meant he’d still be part of the company through the end of 2021, and the new CEO, Bob Chapek, would still report to him even if the majority of his role was reportedly going to be on the creative side. (This, in spite of the fact that Iger’s history doesn’t mark him as a terribly creative executive, unless you count the types of acquisitions he’s helped solidify “creative”.)
I mention all of this because of the following from The New York Times published last night.
Now, let’s be clear about a couple things, because some Disney fansites have run with this article in a way that implies their owners do not have basic reading comprehension. This article doesn’t state that Bob Iger has officially taken over as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, all but relieving Bob Chapek of his duties. It also doesn’t state that there are going to be mass layoffs, outside of the already publicly known furloughing of many Cast Members.
So you could read that article and point out that few new officially confirmed facts are included therein. And you’d be right. It is also easy to read that article and attempt to do so between the lines. It’s troubling that there could ever have been a rumor floated about drastically trimming down on Cast Members across the board; hopefully, it remains a rumor, because from the outside in, it’s painful to watch as plenty of hardworking and dedicated Cast Members lose their jobs. These are the people who make the theme parks, studios, and more, operate on a day-to-day basis. Bob Iger may still be one of the most public faces of the Walt Disney Company, but he’s not making the trains run on time, as it were.
The other part of this is the truly head-scratching part. From all accounts, Bob Chapek, the CEO of the most powerful entertainment company in the world, hasn’t made a public statement in just over a month in the midst of this global pandemic that’s impacting all sorts of businesses, his included. He doesn’t have to speak about this publicly, of course. But his boss is. His boss is the one talking with the governor of California. He’s the one tweeting through it. He’s the one whose ellipses-laden emails are shared with The New York Times. Chapek isn’t made available for interview.
So, no, the Times’ article doesn’t state that Chapek’s out, that Iger’s fully back in, that any of the scare-tactic headlines are true. But what it does imply, at very least, is that Bob Iger never really left. Maybe there will be a succession plan put in place at some point. But we’re still not there yet.
Your Recommendation for Today
As a preview of one of today’s matchups, I wanted to recommend an animated feature that is literally barely that. Clocking in at 42 minutes long — that number is not a typo — Saludos Amigos is just barely long enough to qualify as a feature film instead of a short.
But as a wind-up to The Three Caballeros, it’s a cute diversion that hints at the colorful theme-park future for designer and illustrator Mary Blair (whose work is showcased in one of the shorts), and represents one of a few ways in which Disney tried to create a bridge between the United States and Latin America in the middle of World War II. I genuinely wish there was more behind-the-scenes detail offered on Disney+ — this is a film that would benefit from a dedicated commentary track or some kind of historical context — but it’s still worth your time.