Bob Iger signals exit as Disney succession comes into focus

Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger has indicated plans to step down and ease out of day-to-day management ahead of his contract expiry on December 31, setting the stage for a closely watched leadership transition at the media and entertainment giant.

By Storyboard18| February 2, 2026, 13:15:33 IST

Bob Iger signals exit as Disney succession comes into focus

Iger is expected to remain CEO for several months after a successor is named to mentor the new leader and may continue on Disney’s board post-transition.

Bob Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, has informed associates that he plans to step down and gradually pull back from day-to-day management before his contract expires on December 31, according to media reports.

Succession planning at Disney has been under close investor scrutiny after the company delayed Iger’s retirement multiple times, ultimately bringing him back in 2022 to replace his handpicked successor Bob Chapek following pandemic-related disruptions.

Disney’s board is expected to meet next week at its Burbank, California headquarters to vote on Iger’s successor. Iger has privately told people close to him that he is ready to move on from the demands of the CEO role. Reports also cite his frustration over internal conflicts at ABC, including the brief suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

Iger is expected to remain CEO for several months after a successor is named to mentor the new leader and may continue on Disney’s board post-transition. Potential successors include parks chief Josh D’Amaro, entertainment co-heads Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, and ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro.

Digital

NASA tests AI-driven autonomous navigation on Mars with Perseverance rover

Digital

Sam Altman suggests biometric ‘proof of personhood’ as a long-term fix for bot-driven social media

Brand Marketing

Asian Paints leans on brand power, youth marketing to drive growth

Amit Syngle, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Asian Paints

Digital

EFF targets Apple, Meta and Google in new push for end-to-end encryption by default

A lot of creator income today is tied to platforms like YouTube and Instagram. That gives reach, but revenue visibility is limited and rules change fast. It is hard to build long term enterprise value on that alone.

How it Works

Budget 2026: AVGC gets a budget push, but the real battle is IP, platforms and patient capital

Digital

February sees 8% rise in tech job demand, led by full-time roles: Report

Tech Hiring in India Rises 8% in February After Prolonged Slowdown

Brand Makers

Apple appoints Avtar Ram Singh to lead International Marketing for App Store & Games

Avtar Ram Singh began his career as a market analyst at International Data Corporation before moving into content strategy roles at Lazada, Zalora and Rocket Internet.

How it Works

India’s white-collar hiring up 3% YoY in January; BPO, ITES leads with 21% growth: Naukri

Hiring in the IT sector overall remained flat, though AI/ML roles continued to see strong demand, rising 34% year-on-year.

Iger is expected to remain CEO for several months after a successor is named to mentor the new leader and may continue on Disney’s board post-transition.

Brand Makers