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Bob Iger is set to hand the reins over to Susan Arnold, who becomes the first woman to be appointed Disney chairman in the company’s history
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 02 Dec 2021
Susan Arnold has held a number of senior positions in some of the US’s largest companies Credit: Disney
Disney has elected a woman as its chair for the first time in the company’s 98-year-history, with Susan Arnold set to succeed Bob Iger at the end of the year.
Formerly an executive at global investment firm Carlyle from 2013-2021, Arnold has been a Disney board member for 14 years. She also served as president of Global Business Units for consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble from 2007-2009 and acted as a director of McDonald’s from 2008-2016.
“On behalf of the board, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Bob Iger for his extraordinary leadership over the past decade-and-a-half,” said Arnold.
“Bob has led Disney to amazing heights both creatively and financially, with his clear strategic vision for delivering high-quality branded storytelling, embracing cutting-edge technology, and expanding internationally, and he’s left an indelible mark on Disney that will be felt for generations to come.
“As I step into this new role as chairman, I look forward to continuing to serve the long-term interests of Disney’s shareholders and working closely with CEO Bob Chapek as he builds upon the company’s century-long legacy of creative excellence and innovation.”
Iger, who stepped down as company CEO in 2020 after 15 years in the role, will leave Disney at the end of December.
During his time as CEO, Disney made a number of major acquisitions, including takeovers of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox. This also led to a transformation of Disney’s parks, with a host of new IPs being introduced over the last two decades.
Iger’s landmark park project was the opening of Shanghai Disney - Disney’s first theme park resort in mainland China.
“Susan is an incredibly esteemed executive whose wealth of experience, unwavering integrity, and expert judgment has been invaluable to the company since she first joined the Board in 2007,” said Iger.
“Having most recently served as independent lead director, Susan is the perfect choice for chairman of the board, and I am confident the company is well-positioned for continued success under her guidance and leadership.”
Iger’s exit marks the end of an era for Disney, with the former CEO and chairman operating in senior positions within the company since 1996.
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