LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Walt Disney announced on Sunday evening the return with immediate effect of its former chief executive Bob Iger and the resignation of Bob Chapek, who succeeded him at the head of the group in February 2020.
“The board determined that as Disney enters a phase of increasing complexity with industry transformation, Bob Iger is best positioned to lead the company through this critical time,” said Susan Arnold, chairman of the board. of Disney, quoted in a press release.
Bob Iger, who retired in 2020 after 15 years at the helm of the group, has agreed to serve a further two-year term.
Bob Chapek helped Disney stay the course during the COVID-19 pandemic, but further losses from Disney Plus, its video-on-demand service, announced earlier this month disappointed investors.
The group’s board of directors voted unanimously last June to renew his term of office for three years.
According to a source inside the group, this change of direction took the employees by surprise.
(Written by Lisa Richwin and Dawn Chmielewski, French version Myriam Rivet, editing by Bertrand Boucey)
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