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Has Disney ever fired a CEO?

On Nov. 20, 2022, Bob Iger came out of retirement to become Disney's CEO once again. The board had fired Chapek. Within days, Iger fired Chapek's closest advisors, including his former chief of staff, Arthur Bochner; his assistant, Jackie Hart; and his de facto second-in-command, Kareem Daniel.



Yes, Disney has famously fired or "ousted" CEOs in its history, most notably in recent years. In November 2022, the Disney Board of Directors fired Bob Chapek after less than three years in the role, following a series of public relations missteps, disappointing earnings reports, and internal dissatisfaction. He was immediately replaced by his predecessor, Bob Iger, who was brought out of retirement to stabilize the company. This was a historic move because Chapek had been Iger's hand-picked successor. Before the "Bob vs. Bob" era, Michael Eisner was effectively forced out in 2005 after a "Save Disney" campaign led by Roy E. Disney (Walt’s nephew), which resulted in a massive vote of no-confidence from shareholders. While Eisner officially "resigned," it was widely understood to be a forced departure due to board pressure. In 2026, the company continues to focus on succession planning to avoid the instability seen during the Chapek era. As of March 2026, Josh D'Amaro has been named as the successor to Bob Iger, with the transition expected to be far more controlled than the sudden firing that occurred in 2022.

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Changes at the Walt Disney Company There have been so many changes within the Walt Disney Company over the past few months. The biggest surprise came with the exit of former Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, back in November 2022.

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