Who was the Disney CEO ousted in 1984, leading to Michael Eisner's appointment?

Who was the Disney CEO ousted in 1984, leading to Michael Eisner’s appointment? The answer is Ron W. Miller.

Ron W. Miller, Walt Disney’s son-in-law, was the Disney executive forced out during the company’s 1984 boardroom crisis. Miller had held senior leadership roles at Walt Disney Productions and became president and chief executive during a difficult period marked by weak performance and takeover threats.

The change was driven partly by Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew, and financial allies who opposed Miller’s direction and feared Disney could be broken up or acquired. The board asked Miller to resign in September 1984. Michael Eisner, then president of Paramount Pictures, was subsequently appointed chairman and chief executive officer.

Frank Wells joined Eisner as president and chief operating officer, while Jeffrey Katzenberg became an important part of the new management team. Together, they helped launch the era later associated with Disney’s corporate and creative revival. Miller’s tenure is sometimes simplified in quiz questions, but he was not replaced by Frank Wells: Wells became president and COO, while Eisner took the CEO role.