Bob Iger Success Story
Bob Iger is a renowned American businessman, known for his role as the CEOand Chairman of The Walt Disney Company.
Bob Iger With Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise
Childhood
Born in 1951 into a Jewish family, Bob grew up in theLong Island town of New York’s Oceanside. His father, Arthur L Iger was a WWII veteran and worked withthe Greenvale Marketing Corporation as the Executive Vice President and General Manager.
He also taught as a professor of advertising and public relations. Iger’s mother worked in Oceanside at Boardman Junior High School.
Early Career
Bob Iger completed his undergraduate studies at the Ithaca College. He graduated from Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca with a Bachelor of Sciencedegree in Television & Radio. In the mid 70s Iger started off work as a local TV weatherman before joining the American Broadcasting Company.
Within two decades of work, Iger earned the title of president of ABC’s Network Television Group. Thereafter, he became the President and CEO of Capital Cities/ABC, the parent company to ABC.
Career Highlights
Two years after being appointed as President at ABC, The Walt Disney Company took Capital Cities/ABC into their stride and Iger continued office as President until the late '90s. Early in 1999, he was promoted as President of Walt Disney International, and COO a year later.
Iger headed Disney as the new CEO within a short span of five years. In 2011, Iger became a Director at Apple. He was also a part of the billion-dollar Pixar acquisition, which led to Steve Jobs joining Disney as a member of the board of directors. Iger shall hold the post as CEO and Chairman of Disney until 2016, as contracted.
Reputation
Bob Iger With Mark Lee And Sarah Jessica Parker
A strategic visionary, Iger, led Disney to scale new heights, with the acquisition of three of the greatest companies in the entertainment business. The inclusions of Pixar in 2006, followed by Marvel in 2009 and Lucasfilm in 2012, accentuated the glories of The Walt Disney Company. In 2006-2007, his name was listed in the Fortune magazine as one of the “25 Most Powerful People in Business”.
Iger also acquired the reputation of a “Top Gun CEO” in theForbes magazine in 2009. His tenure saw the remarkable accomplishment of the Walt Disney Company being named as one of “America’s Most Admired Companies” by the Forbes magazine.
CEO of Walt Disney Company
In 1995, The Walt Disney Company acquired Capital Cities/ABC, and Iger remained chairman until 1999. He was then named president of Walt Disney International and chairman of the ABC Group. In 2000, Iger was appointed president and COO of Disney, becoming the second-in-command under then-CEO Michael Eisner. On March 13, 2005, Disney announced that Iger would succeed Michael Eisner as CEO, a position he officially assumed on September 30, 2005. During his tenure, Iger focused on expanding Disney's intellectual property and global presence.
Iger stepped down as CEO on February 25, 2020, with Bob Chapek named as his successor. However, Iger remained as executive chairman until December 31, 2021. On November 20, 2022, following Chapek's departure, Iger returned as CEO at the request of Disney's board of directors. In July 2023, his contract was extended through 2026.
Throughout his career, Iger has received numerous accolades, including being named Time's Businessperson of the Year in 2019 and induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 2020. In September 2022, he was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for services to UK/US relations.
Iger's strategic vision and leadership have been instrumental in transforming Disney into a global entertainment powerhouse, significantly expanding its content offerings and international footprint.
Politics
Initially identifying as a Democrat, Iger transitioned to an independent status in 2016. His political contributions have predominantly supported Democratic candidates and causes. Notably, 98% of his personal donations have been directed toward Democratic entities. Iger has been vocal on various political issues and has contemplated running for public office. He seriously considered a presidential bid twice: first in 2015, prior to the 2016 election, and again in 2017. However, he ultimately decided against pursuing a political career. Under Iger's leadership, Disney has taken definitive positions on social matters. In 2022, the company opposed Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill, commonly referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. This opposition led to a public dispute with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, culminating in a legal settlement in 2024.
Iger has expressed a desire to maintain Disney's political neutrality, aiming to "quiet things down" regarding the company's involvement in political controversies. He has emphasized that certain issues, often labeled as political, are fundamentally about human rights and should not be politicized.
Personal Life
Iger and his former wife Kathleen Susan Iger, who was the Vice President at Al Rokerinto production, had two daughters,Kathleen Pamela Iger and Amanda Iger. The marriage ended in a divorce. In a civil ceremony in Rhode Island in 2005, Kathleen Pamela tied the knot with Jarrod Alan Cushing at the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum.
In 1995, in Bridgehampton, New York,Bob Iger married Willow Bay, a journalist, in an interfaith Jewish and Roman Catholic service. Iger and Bay have two children, Robert Maxwell"Max" Iger, and William Iger.
