Bob Iger succeeded Michael Eisner as Disney’s CEO in 2005.
Iger was already one of Disney’s senior executives when the transition was announced. He became the company’s president and chief operating officer in 2000, placing him directly below Eisner and giving him broad responsibility for day-to-day operations.
The succession followed years of tension surrounding Eisner’s leadership, including criticism from board members Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold and the “Save Disney” campaign. Disney announced on March 13, 2005, that Iger would become CEO. Eisner formally remained CEO until September 30, 2005, so the change involved an announcement and handover period rather than an instantaneous replacement.
Iger’s first tenure lasted until 2020. During it, Disney acquired Pixar, Marvel Entertainment, and Lucasfilm, substantially expanding its entertainment portfolio. A common mix-up is Bob Chapek, who succeeded Iger in 2020, or Roy E. Disney, who was an influential family member and board figure but never CEO. Iger later returned as CEO in 2022 after Chapek’s removal.