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New Disney CEO just dropped—but give it a few.
Disney said this week it would choose its next CFO in early 2026, a long-awaited indication that the media behemoth might finally be moving past its succession woes after current CEO Bob Iger retires.
After a messy succession attempt in 2022, it’s the first time Disney has publicly confirmed a timeline for Iger’s replacement.
Iger’s quest to name a successor hasn’t quite rivaled Logan Roy’s odyssey—but it hasn’t been especially pretty. For starters, Iger never seemed especially keen on leaving: During his first stint as CEO, he delayed retirement four times, per the New York Times. When it came time to find a successor, Disney’s board fired the successor Iger selected, Bob Chapek, in November 2022, and Iger stepped back into the CEO seat afterward.
The announcement (of the future announcement of Iger’s replacement) arrived alongside a broader board shake-up at Disney.
James P. Gorman, executive chairman of Morgan Stanley, will take over as Disney’s board chair in January, replacing Mark Parker, who is resigning. Gorman will end his role at Morgan Stanley at the end of December.
He currently serves as chair of Disney’s succession planning committee, which met six times this fiscal year. In August, Gorman was tasked with leading the search for the company’s next CEO.
“The Disney Board has benefited tremendously from James Gorman’s expertise and guidance, and we are lucky to have him as our next Chairman—particularly as the Board continues to move forward with the succession process,” Iger said in a statement.
Gorman said a new CEO appointment is “a critical priority” for the company. “This timing reflects the progress the Succession Planning Committee and the Board are making, and will allow ample time for a successful transition before the conclusion of Bob Iger’s contract in December 2026,” he added.