Bob Iger: Disney's Visionary CEO

Bob Iger is undeniably one of the most influential CEOs – and individuals – in Disney's rich history. Beginning his career on ABC's production sets, he steadily rose through the ranks before joining Disney following its acquisition of ABC. As CEO, he transformed Disney through a bold acquisition strategy by bringing Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox into its portfolio. After retiring in 2020, Iger is now back at the helm, once again shaping the future of the entertainment giant. Let's dive straight in.

• Rise at ABC: Starting in entry-level roles on television sets, Iger steadily ascended the ranks at ABC, relying on his strong work ethic.

• Pivotal merger: Disney's 1995 acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC proved to be a decisive moment in Iger's career, ultimately paving his path to the top of his new parent company.

• Reshaping Disney: As Iger became CEO, he began implementing an acquisition strategy, expanding Disney's content portfolio and steadily transforming the company into a global entertainment conglomerate.

Robert “Bob” Iger was born in 1951 in New York City and grew up in Oceanside, Long Island, just outside the city. From a young age, Iger was set on what he wanted to do in his life. Watching the legendary Walter Cronkite every night inspired him to become a news anchor.

After high school, Iger moved upstate to take the first steps toward his intended career, earning a bachelor's degree in Television and Radio at Ithaca College. Upon graduating, he began what would become a long and successful career in media, starting as a weatherman for a local Ithaca television station. However, this brief experience led him to reconsider his path:

In 1974, Bob Iger began what would become a decades-long rise through the corporate ranks of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). Starting with entry-level work on television sets, he gained experience across various departments, productions, and sets, steadily learning the inner workings of the media industry.

For nearly a decade, Iger held a variety of roles, immersing himself in television production. By the mid-1980s, he began transitioning into executive positions, continuing his steady ascent. Around the same time, ABC was acquired by the much smaller Capital Cities. On a short side note, this deal was backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which financed the transaction in exchange for a 25% stake in the combined entity.

Despite the merger, Iger's rise remained uninterrupted, and by the late 1980s, he had become head of ABC. Under his leadership, the network introduced iconic shows like Twin Peaks and America's Funniest Home Videos. His corporate climb continued, and in 1994, he was named president and chief operating officer (COO) of Capital Cities/ABC – just as another merger was about to reshape his career and the future of Disney.

In 1995, The Walt Disney Company acquired Capital Cities/ABC and renamed it ABC. At the time, the acquisition marked a pivotal shift in Disney's trajectory. Since the early days of Walt and Roy Oliver Disney and the debut of Steamboat Willie, the company had grown into a global entertainment studio and theme park operator. However, despite its success, Disney had yet to evolve into the entertainment conglomerate we recognize today.

That transformation was accelerated with this acquisition. By purchasing Capital Cities/ABC, Disney became a fully integrated media powerhouse, gaining control over television networks, cable channels, and film production.

With ABC's vast TV network and ESPN’s dominance in sports broadcasting, Disney strengthened its content distribution while unlocking new opportunities for cross-promotion, merchandising, and synergy across its expanding entertainment empire.

Iger continued rising within Disney, becoming president of Walt Disney International in 1999 and later president and COO in 2000, reporting directly to CEO Michael Eisner.

By the early 2000s, Disney was experiencing internal power struggles. Roy E. Disney, Walt Disney's nephew and longtime executive, became an outspoken critic of Eisner's leadership. While Eisner had led the "Disney Renaissance" of the late 1980s and 1990s – bringing classics such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King to life – his leadership had begun to cause friction within the company.

Concerns mounted over creative missteps, declining box office performance, and conflicts with key figures, most notably Steve Jobs. At the time, Jobs was CEO of Pixar, the studio behind Disney's most successful animated films, including Toy Story and Finding Nemo. However, tensions between Eisner and Jobs led to a breakdown in negotiations, with Jobs publicly declaring that Pixar was seeking new distribution partners.

In 2003, Roy Disney resigned from the board and launched the "Save Disney" campaign, rallying investors against Eisner. The following year, Eisner suffered a 43% no-confidence vote, which ultimately led to his resignation. This power shift paved the way for Iger, who was named CEO of Disney in 2005.

One of Iger's first major moves as CEO of Disney was repairing the company's strained relationship with Pixar, which he accomplished by acquiring the animation studio in 2006. This deal not only secured Pixar's animation technology within Disney but also mended ties with Steve Jobs. An outcome of Iger and Jobs reconciling was that Disney became the first company to offer its TV shows on Apple's iTunes, marking an early step into digital distribution.

Iger's acquisition of Pixar set the tone for his tenure, as large-scale acquisitions became one of his most defining strategies. Under his leadership, Disney went on to acquire:

• Marvel (2009) – Bringing blockbuster franchises like The Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor.

• Lucasfilm (2012) – Adding Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Disney's empire.

• 21st Century Fox (2019) – Extensively expanding its content library and giving it a controlling stake in Hulu.

These acquisitions expanded Disney beyond just movies and TV, fueling growth in theme parks, merchandising, and other business ventures. The vast catalog of franchises also became a key advantage in the streaming wars.

Further reading: Disney's Most Notable Acquisitions Since Inception

In 2019, Disney launched its own streaming service, Disney+, leveraging its extensive content portfolio to compete with Netflix, Prime Video (Amazon), and Max (Warner Bros. Discovery). The platform quickly became a massive success:

At this period in time, Iger's corporate influence also extended beyond Disney. Having built a close friendship with Steve Jobs, he had served on Apple's board of directors from 2011 until 2019. However, with Disney's expansion into streaming and the launch of Disney+, he stepped down to avoid a conflict of interest as Apple prepared to debut Apple TV+.

After 15 years leading Disney, Iger retired as CEO in 2020. However, just two years later – following a challenging tenure under Bob Chapek, marked by streaming strategy struggles, corporate controversies, and the difficulties of the pandemic and post-pandemic era – Iger was reinstated as CEO in 2022.

As the widely respected leader he was, Iger returned with a key mission: to stabilize the company and identify a long-term successor before stepping away permanently. Though originally set for a shorter term, his contract has since been extended through the end of 2026.

Bob Iger is widely regarded as a collaborative and well-respected leader, known for his ability to build strong relationships both within Disney and across the industry. Beyond that, his career trajectory reflects his strong work ethic and determination.

His decades-long career in entertainment has given him a deep understanding of the industry's entire value chain and shaped his visionary leadership. This is particularly evident in the transformational acquisitions he led, turning Disney into a global entertainment powerhouse, competing across multiple platforms, from film and television to streaming, theme parks, and merchandising.

Apple CEO Tim Cook once compared Iger's leadership style to that of a tech CEO, emphasizing his forward-thinking, visionary approach:

Bob Iger is widely regarded as one of the most influential CEOs in the entertainment industry. Now in his second tenure as Disney's CEO, Iger once again leads the company he helped shape, preparing it for a bright future. When he eventually steps down for the second time his successor will face the challenge of filling the shoes of a leader whose legacy stands alongside the greatest of Disney's past.