Did Bob Iger Try to Return to Disney Almost Immediately After Quitting?
Did Bob Iger try to return to Disney much sooner than previously believed?
According to a recent Bloomberg article, that’s exactly what happened.
Iger Regrets Everything
Reporter Thomas Buckley wrote a story entitled “Has Bob Iger Lost the Magic?”
In this discussion, Buckley casually dropped a bombshell about Iger’s reluctance to leave The Walt Disney Company.
Here’s the pertinent quote:
“Although he stepped down as CEO in February 2020, Iger didn’t officially cut ties with Disney for another year and a half, when he finally resigned as executive chairman.
He immediately regretted it and informed the board he wished to be reinstated as CEO, but directors advised him to give Chapek a chance, according to people familiar with the events.”
Did Iger Ask to Come Back?
Importantly, Disney has refuted this claim. A company spokesperson specifically states that Iger didn’t ask for his job back at the time.
However, the people interviewed for the story suggest otherwise. If true – and we don’t know if it is — the implication here is simple.
By the time Bob Iger left Disney on New Year’s Eve, 2021, he’d already lost complete faith in his successor, Bob Chapek.
While Iger found retirement boring, he bristled as he watched Chapek struggle to lead Disney.
At this point, which likely would have been in the first half of 2022, Iger may have hinted that he wanted to return…or possibly even directly said so.
The article alleges that Disney’s Board of Directors felt that Chapek deserved a longer look as CEO, a decision they ultimately regretted.
Iger would return on November 20th, 2022, which the article indicates led to cheering in Disney’s Chinese offices, which were already open for the day.
Did Iger try to come back much sooner in 2022? I don’t think it’s that big a stretch since he’s said several times he grew bored while retired.
Should Disney’s Board have said yes sooner? Absolutely.
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below, and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!