Deadline is reporting today that Disney Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy has emerged as a top contender for the job of Disney CEO when Bob Iger's contract is over in two years.
Deadline sources said, "Christine has always been a force to be reckoned with, but you have to put her on a list of top five possibilities after the last few weeks."
Disney's CFO was reportedly a key player in the removal of Bob Chapek as CEO. According to a report by FT, the rebellion began in the summer of 2022 and was led by executives loyal to former CEO Bob Iger. Disney Chief Financial Officer, Christine McCarthy, was one of those to allegedly approach the board.
Deadline suggests that McCarthy threatened to resign if Chapek was not immediately removed as CEO.
Christine McCarthy, now 67, was appointed CFO by Bob Iger in 2015, following a 15-year career as Disney's Treasurer. At the time, Iger said, "She is highly respected in the finance sector, and in this new role she will have even more impact on creating value for Disney shareholders."
Prior to joining Disney, McCarthy was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Imperial Bancorp from 1997 to 2000. She held various finance and planning positions at First Interstate Bancorp from 1981 to 1996, and was elected Executive Vice President in Finance for First Interstate in 1993. Ms. McCarthy completed her Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences at Smith College, where she received an award for excellence in botany, and later earned an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the Anderson School at UCLA.
One of Bob Iger's key responsibilities during his return to Disney is to find his successor, and he doesn't have long to do it. Dana Walden, chair of Disney General Entertainment Content is expected to be a contender, along with Disney, Parks Experiences and Products Chairman, Josh D'Amaro.
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