Iger Returns to Weather Roots in ABC Interview
With only a couple of weeks remaining in his tenure at the Walt Disney Company, Chairman Bob Iger popped by ABC7/KABC, the local ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, on Thursday to talk about his time with the company. During the interview, he also surprised viewers with a return to where it all began: advising the community of the daily local weather.
An ABC Start in Weather
Almost fifty years passed since Iger took to the green screen. He got his start in communications in Ithaca in 1972, as he studied at Ithaca College. During his time there, he hosted Campus Probe, a television show made at the school. Following graduation, he also spent five months as a weatherman at the local ABC affiliate.
The TIME Business Person of the Year visited the Los Angeles affiliate on Thursday for a piece celebrating his legacy with the Disney company, which includes the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm as well as the opening Shanghai Disney Resort and the debut of Disney+.
Reflecting on an Inspiring Career
The crew congratulated Iger on his success and laughingly shared a common tie, as early riser Iger said that he spends most mornings tuning into the show, he said.
“I’m often asked would I change anything. The answer is no, it worked out just fine I’ve had just a great experience. … I’ve loved what I’ve done. Every day that I’ve come to work, I’ve been happy. I’m privilleged to have had the opportunity to run this great company. Looking forward to what’s next even though I’m not 100 percent sure what that is. I haven’t had a day off since eighth grade,” Iger said in the interview.
The former Walt Disney Company CEO also discussed his best-selling book and the possibility of him writing another in his retirement, noting that it is definitely a possibility.
For his part of the weather broadcast, Iger delighted with a dose of clever personality as he covered an extensive forecast for the Los Angeles-area over the next few days.
“Very nippy on Saturday morning, by the way, 62 degrees in the Los Angeles area. … 46 degrees on Saturday morning — that’s when I bike ride. I think I may have to look out for some early morning frost,” Iger noted during the seven-day forecast, adding that the mountain snow seems appropriate for the holiday season.
On December 31st, Bob Iger will leave his role as Chairman of the Walt Disney Company Board of Directors. Longtime board member Susan Arnold will replace him.