Major shakeup at Disney: Board chair is out. New CEO is coming soon
CNN
Disney is about to have its fourth board chair in three years, as the company continues to navigate ongoing tumult in the media industry.
Disney is about to have its fourth board chair in just over three years, as the company continues to navigate ongoing tumult in the media industry. Chairman Mark Parker will step down at the end of the year, the company announced Monday. Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman will replace Parker starting in 2025. “I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as Disney’s chairman at this important moment in the company’s history,” Gorman said in a statement. Parker, a board member for nine years, just stepped into the chairmanship role last year, replacing Susan Arnold, who held the role for just over a year until her term expired. Arnold had served on Disney’s board for a decade and a half. Among the decisions Gorman will be tasked with: Replacing Bob Iger as CEO. The company also announced that a replacement for Iger will be named in early 2026. Iger returned as CEO last year after a brief hiatus. Gorman said Monday that choosing a new CEO is “critical,” and the announcement of the timing reflects progress in Disney’s decision to replace Iger. Parker, when he was announced, said replacing Iger would be among his top priorities. Instead, Parker and the board quickly renewed Iger’s contract through 2026. Although Iger said he would not stay longer than two years in his latest stint at the company, the extension meant that he will serve as CEO in his second go-round at least four years.
On Wednesday, Shahlise Cherry and her friend Deborah Arnone went to visit a fondly remembered past, one that helped to reshape retailing in America. They went shopping at the last full-size Kmart in the mainland United States, which is set to close its doors in Bridgehampton, New York, for good on Sunday.