Disney Headlines for December 2nd, 2021
This week in Disney Headlines, we’ve got big changes at the top of the Disney food chain. So, what does it all mean?
Meet the New Boss…
In a matter of a few hours, The Walt Disney Company changed its leadership in Imagineering and then the Board of Directors. It was that kind of day.
Let’s start with the less-heralded story, which I find more interesting.
Barbara Bouza just earned the title of President of Walt Disney Imagineering. That’s the kind of role that we all dream about as a kid.
Bouza’s ascension is all the more remarkable when we consider that she didn’t even work for Disney until June of 2020.
Disney executives poached Bouza after admiring her work as the Principal Managing Director at Gensler.
Bouza is an architect who has won countless accolades, such as The Los Angeles Business Journal’s “2014 Executive of the Year – Women Making a Difference.”
Bouza’s signature achievement is the Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center in Berkeley, California. You can look at it here:
Her alma mater previously published an article about her career triumphs. You can read it here.
The section that stands out to me is this:
“Of the estimated 125,000 licensed architects in the United States, around 18 percent are women. For African-American women, the number is much smaller at approximately 430 or 0.3 percent, (Bouza) says.”
The new head of Imagineering was previously a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and its Los Angeles chapter’s President.
The New Boss and the Old Boss
We’re talking about a rock star of a designer. And I take away three things from her promotion.
The first is that Disney had likely eyed her for a while as one of the best professionals in the same area as Imagineering’s home base.
Secondly, CEO Bob Chapek and his new leadership team prioritize design as a significant part of the next phase of Imagineering.
Remember that Bouza didn’t even work at Disney when he got the gig. So it’s possible he poached her with this plan in place.
Otherwise, Bouza must have quickly impressed her bosses. She went from being a non-Disney employee to the head of Imagineering in nine months. That’s remarkable.
Finally, Bouza’s LinkedIn page lists her time as President of Imagineering as starting in…March of 2021. So, this isn’t breaking news.
For whatever reason, Disney has kept this secret during a tumultuous period in the Imagineering division’s history.
As you know, Disney is relocating most of its Imagineering team to Lake Nona, Florida, the new headquarters for this division.
Some employees have chosen not to move, seeking other employment instead. The fact that none of them bitterly divulged this information seems noteworthy.
I suspect the secrecy may have something to do with Bob Weis. The former President of Imagineering had held this job for five years.
Apparently, at some point this year, Disney handed him the illustrious title of Global Imagineering Ambassador. Yes, that’s Marty Sklar’s old title.
So, we’ve witnessed a massive changing of the guard within the friendly confines of the Imagineering division. And that’s not all…
Chairman of the Board
Susan Arnold just became the most important person at Disney whose name you’ve never known.
I say this tongue-in-cheek, but there’s some truth to it. Arnold earned a spot on Disney’s Board of Directors in 2007.
Since then, I’ve written millions of words about the company, and I’m struggling to remember a single instance of someone mentioning her job duties.
That’s noteworthy because Arnold just earned an even more remarkable job promotion than Bouza.
On January 1st, Susan Arnold will replace Bob Iger as the Chairman of the Board for The Walt Disney Company.
Yes, Arnold is now ultimately the person in charge at Disney, although Bob Chapek calls the shots as CEO.
Chapek has answered to the Board of Directors since he became CEO. Now, he’ll have someone new as the ultimate decision-maker.
Iger had taken the title of Executive Chairman to reflect that he was no longer CEO. However, he remained Chairman of the Board.
On December 31st, Iger will leave Disney forever. Some had wondered whether that change would include a departure from the Board of Directors.
So, this announcement confirms that Iger is working through his final month on the job.
Meanwhile, Arnold’s ascension seems somewhat surprising, at least on the surface level. She had worked as Lead Director for Disney’s Board since 2018, though.
I won’t bore you with corporate job duties, but it’s not unusual for a Lead Director to earn the title of Chairman of the Board.
Arnold clearly impressed with her role during the chaotic pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
Iger felt comfortable choosing her as his successor. And yes, it was his call, no matter what anybody says on the subject.
Final Thoughts on These Headlines
Iger had the following to say about Arnold:
“Having most recently served as independent Lead Director, Susan is the perfect choice for Chairman of the Board, and I am confident the Company is well-positioned for continued success under her guidance and leadership.”
A whisper campaign is likely to ensue about why Bob Chapek didn’t earn the title of Chairman of the Board. The first answer is obvious.
Iger himself needed roughly six years to evolve from CEO to the joint title alongside Chairman of the Board. Chapek’s only in year two.
The other topic of conversation centers on the two promotions in combination.
Disney just named a woman as its head of Imagineering and then another as the Chairman of the Board.
Both of those announcements are historic in nature. So it’s fitting that Disney revealed them both on the same day.
Now, executives can point to these leaders as actionable demonstrations of the Fifth Key, Inclusion.
Meanwhile, two Disney employees of note, Weis and Iger, get to take well-earned victory laps as they enter new phases of their lives.
Today’s a good day for Disney and its fans.
Feature Image: Disney