Bob Iger comments on his extended contract as Walt Disney CEO in memo to Cast Members

Jul 12, 2023 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Wednesday July 12, 2023 8:08pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney CEO Bob Iger has written to Cast Members sharing the news of his contract extension which will see him lead the company through 2026.

In the memo, Iger says, "We’ve made important and sometimes difficult decisions to address some existing structural and efficiency issues, and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve together. But there is more to accomplish before this transformative work is complete, and I am committed to seeing this through."

When Iger regained control of Disney from Bob Chapek in November 2022, his agreement with the board was to lead the company for two years and find his successor. Since his arrival, several high-profile executives have left, including one leading potential successor, CFO Christine McCarthy.

We expect to hear more about his contract extension during a TV appearance with CNBC on Thursday morning.

Here is the full memo from Iger.

Dear Fellow Employees,

I want to thank you for your tremendous dedication, patience, and optimism as we’ve taken important steps to reposition the company for enduring creative and financial success. Since my return to Disney just seven months ago, I’ve examined virtually every facet of our businesses to fully understand the tremendous opportunities before us, as well as the challenges we face on numerous fronts.

We’ve made important and sometimes difficult decisions to address some existing structural and efficiency issues, and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve together. But there is more to accomplish before this transformative work is complete, and I am committed to seeing this through.

To that end, I’m writing to share that I have agreed to the Disney Board’s request to remain CEO for an additional two years – through the end of 2026.

As I’ve said many times since we began this important transformation of the company, our progress will not be linear as we continue navigating a difficult economic environment and the tectonic shifts occurring in our industry. This is a moment that requires us to remain steadfast, strategic, and clear-eyed about the road ahead.

It is also important to me that Disney is strongly positioned when my successor takes the helm. As the Board continues to evaluate a highly qualified slate of internal and external candidates, I remain intensely focused on a successful CEO transition.

Through it all, I am unwaveringly optimistic about Disney’s future. I believe in this company. I believe in the leadership team I have around me. And I believe in you – our spectacular employees and Cast Members. It’s an honor to work alongside you as we chart Disney’s path forward together, and I look forward to all that we will continue to achieve over the coming years.

Thank you for all you do,
Bob

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

View all comments →

Sirwalterraleigh7 days ago

Say it 1000 times…it’s not gonna be true Doubling prices in 10 years is not “inflation” And not only that…that government sanctioned (frankly) excuse from the plague is starting to collapse…as products are increasingly rejected Get your popcorn and watch it play

Sirwalterraleigh7 days ago

That would involve reading books…or Wikipedia at a minimum… It’s a lot to ask 🤪

JD807 days ago

Price increase recently have been basically on par with inflation.

Ayla7 days ago

And prices continue to rise at a ridiculous rate...

Dranth7 days ago

What amazes me it that this has been repeated throughout history over and over and over and yet we never seem to learn that eventually people break when things get this far out of whack.

Sirwalterraleigh7 days ago

I don’t…it’s 100% about growing economic strife…for decades Even when it’s not “about that”…it ultimately gets back to it. Anger 101

Dranth7 days ago

It is gross how much CEO pay has shot up since 1980 when it really took off. Think I remember reading an article that pegged it at something like 1800% increase over that time. Can't recall if that was adjusted for inflation or not but either way it is a pretty massive increase. Obviously, it depends on the position but if you compare CEOs to their lowest paid, full-time hourly positions instead of the average it gets a lot uglier. If Iger got 41.1 million in 2024 then he is making roughly 1,170 times his base level employees. Generously, let's say a CEO puts in 80-hour work weeks, that means for 2024 he was making around $160 a minute. That is close to what an hourly employee will make in a full day if not more. Just for fun (the depressing kind), if Elon's 4.49 billion a year package from Tesla holds up, he will be getting around 128,200 times the lowest paid full-time positions. There aren't enough hours in the week for him to put in 80 at Tesla given all his other positions he has but let’s say he did. That would mean he was making $18,000 a minute or $300.00 a second. In that case, he is making around twice as much per second as his lowest level employees do in a day. And folks wonder why everyone is angry all the time.

Sirwalterraleigh7 days ago

…shovels at the ready The line starts right behind Willow 😱 Remember: only HE can save us all 🤫

JoeCamel7 days ago

One stat I saw was he makes 746 times what the average TWDC employee makes edit: but even if he worked for nothing it wouldn't move the needle on company earnings

GhostHost10008 days ago

Bob’s salary increased 30% meanwhile we have a cost cutting thread

JoeCamel8 days ago

I really think Bob needs a well paid geriatric pool boy...... https://blogmickey.com/2025/01/bob-igers-pay-2024/

DCBaker8 days ago

Details for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

MisterPenguin30 days ago

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-stocks-review-2024-netflix-walt-disney-warner-bros-discovery-1236087500/ https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/media-stocks-2024-netflix-disney-warner-bros-discovery-1236262140/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/2025-entertainment-stock-picks-disney-netflix-spotify-take-two-1236087572/

BrianLoDec 04, 2024

Not at all. Comcast wanted Fox and Disney wanted Sky. They both lost something, but Roberts only got the stinker and Dis was bid up unnecessarily. The only one who truly came out on top was Murdoch. Unless I’m misunderstanding you and you think Comcast didn’t want Fox?