NEWS: CEO Bob Iger Enlists Help of Former Disney Execs and Potential Successors

Since returning to The Walt Disney Company in late 2022, CEO Bob Iger has led a number of changes: bringing free hotel parking back, getting rid of Park Pass Reservations for select visitors, and offering more incentives to get people in the parks — each being a very welcome update.

But, Iger appears to still be struggling to achieve one of his biggest goals at Disney — improving streaming and the company’s linear television networks. Now, it looks like he’s enlisted the help of some familiar faces.

Bob Iger was recently interviewed by CNBC and shared a lot about his future at Disney — and the future of Disney itself. After news broke that Iger’s contract had been extended into 2026, he confirmed in the interview that the company was toying with the idea of potentially selling off ABC and other linear networks.

Iger mentioned that Disney is considering selling off its TV assets like the ABC network. Iger said the company would be “expansive” in how it thinks about traditional TV, with the door being left open to selling the networks it owns. “They may not be core to Disney,” he said.

But, he didn’t mention that he would be enlisting the help of two former Disney executives — Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs — to do so. According to The New York Times, the two have reportedly been brought back to “advise on the future of Disney’s legacy TV businesses.”

You may recognize Mayer’s name as a one-time Iger-successor-hopeful, who served as the company’s Chairman of the Direct-to-Consumer and International segment before stepping down and heading to TikTok. Tom Staggs was also pegged as a potential Iger successor and served as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and head of parks at one point. The two currently head Candle Media as co-CEOs.

Per a report from Deadline, a person familiar with the situation shared that Mayer and Staggs will “take a hard look at ESPN.” For now, it appears as though they’re only consulting for Disney while maintaining their current roles at Candle Media (Puck.com).

We’ll have to see what may come out of this new joint venture — the Times indicates that in addition to linear networks, it’s possible Mayer and Staggs will also be integral in helping Iger choose his eventual successor.

Since Iger’s contract has been extended into 2026, we have a couple of years to wait it out. In the meantime, we’ll be sure to keep you updated with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to AllEars for more.

What do you think of Iger’s recent moves? Tell us in the comments.

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