Happy 72nd Birthday, Bob Iger!
Bob Iger has been in the news quite a bit lately — but today we’re here to celebrate his birthday!
Iger has accomplished quite a bit in his life, including serving as The Walt Disney Company CEO not once but TWICE, so let’s review his life in honor of his 72nd birthday!
Happy Birthday, Bob Iger!
Robert Allen Iger was born on February 10th, 1951 in New York City, and he was raised in Oceanside, New York. He graduated magna cum laude from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science in Television and Radio in 1973.
Iger’s first step in his media career was as host of the Ithaca College television show, Campus Probe, in 1972. He originally dreamed of becoming a weatherman!
Instead, Iger began working for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1974, serving in a variety of roles until eventually rising to become the president and CEO of Capital Cities/ABC in 1994.
After The Walt Disney Company purchased Capital Cities/ABC in 1995 (and renamed the company ABC, Inc.), Iger was named president of Walt Disney International in 1999, and he became the chief operating officer (COO) in 2000. He became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, succeeding Michael Eisner.
Bob Iger as Disney CEO
During Iger’s tenure as Disney CEO, Disney acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, re-acquired the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and opened Shanghai Disney Resort, among many other accomplishments.
Iger continued to serve as Disney’s CEO until 2020 when he was succeeded by Bob Chapek, although he continued to serve Disney in the role of executive chairman until 2021. In November 2022, however, Iger returned as CEO, replacing Chapek.
Iger has said that his return as Disney CEO will last for two years, after which a successor will be named. During an interview with CNBC, Iger explained the two-year timeline, noting that as he heads into his 72nd year, there are “other things in life that I’d like to do.”
Happy birthday, Bob Iger! Keep following MickeyBlog for more Disney news!