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What is Disney without Walt Disney?
Well, he wasn't a CEO, but he was the primary co-founder of the Walt Disney Company. You can thank Walt Disney for pioneering the American animation industry and creating iconic characters like Mickey Mouse that would become globally beloved.
The guy was nothing but a creative genius.
He faced failures like going bankrupt early on. Still, Disney persevered with innovations like the first synchronized sound cartoon, Steamboat Willie. He was a real grinder.
His drive to push creative boundaries led to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, one of the first animated feature films. I'm unsure if he'd love to see what they recently did to Snow White.
Beyond animation, Disney expanded into live-action films, television, and theme parks, though projects like Disneyland were initially called "Walt's Folly."
His vision and business savvy built the modern Disney entertainment empire. Even after he died in 1966, Disney's focus on storytelling and characters continues to inspire.
He is viewed as a uniquely creative force and masterful entrepreneur; Walt Disney's pioneering success made it one of the most admired media brands worldwide.
Walt's brother apparently had better business sense.
Roy co-founded Walt Disney Productions and served as CEO for over 40 years.
Though initially hesitant about Walt's creative ambitions, Roy handled the business. He found ways to finance early Disney films and projects when banks refused. These were tough times for Disney.
His pragmatic support helped make Walt's dreams like Disneyland possible and your next vacation of standing in lines all day a reality.
Roy oversaw Disney's corporate growth for decades and deferred his own retirement to supervise the construction of Walt Disney World. More lines, why not.
After Walt died, Roy postponed his retirement again to lead the transition. The guy was the real deal, and he helped maintain the Disney legacy until he died in 1971.
Donn Tatum became Chairman and CEO after Roy O. Disney's death in 1971, becoming the first non-Disney family member to lead Walt Disney Productions.
Luckily, the Disney brothers didn't put the kids in charge and ruin everything
Donn had been President and a key part of Disney management under the founders. Tatum provided continuity during this transition period following Walt and Roy's passing. There is nothing better than a steady hand.
He led the company for most of the 1970s as Disney's films, theme parks, and other media grew globally. Yes, growth can be good.
Important projects under Tatum included opening Walt Disney World and beginning plans for EPCOT. Love anything that sounds like an apricot.
Let's say Tatum wasn't as creative as Walt. While some criticize Tatum for a creative decline in Disney animation during this era, he maintained Disney's business success. You have to keep the money flowing in somehow.
In 1976, Tatum passed the CEO title to Card Walker to focus full-time on Chairman duties before retiring in 1980.
Tatum set up the company for success for decades to come.
Walker had been with the company for a long time before taking over the reins. Having been with Disney since the 1930s, Card Walker became CEO in 1976.
Walker provided operational leadership after serving as Disney's President and COO throughout the 1970s. He also had business know-how during volatile economic conditions in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was an operational marvel.
Key projects under Walker's tenure included the opening of EPCOT in 1982. It finally opened.
Though some criticize Walker for allowing Disney's animation quality and creativity to decline during this period, he maintained profitability. He expanded the theme parks and resorts division significantly. I'm sure Walt wouldn't be happy, but hey, more money.
Walker stepped down as CEO in 1983 but continued serving as chairman until retiring later that year.
The next man to take over was Ron Miller, who became CEO in 1983. Let's just say his tenure was very short.
As Walt Disney's son-in-law, he rose up through the ranks to become Disney's President and heir apparent in the late 1970s.
However, Disney struggled creatively and financially through much of Miller's presidency, damaging his standing despite efforts to boost feature animation and launch new ventures like Touchstone Pictures and Disney Channel. Creativity must not be genetic.
In 1984, the board dismissed Miller after a year as CEO, citing internal turmoil and lagging profits. It had to be done.
Brought in from Paramount in 1984, Eisner is widely credited with transforming Disney from a struggling studio into a thriving modern media conglomerate. This is the real OG before Bob Iger.
His first decade saw massive growth fueled by a string of hit animated films that composed the lucrative Disney Renaissance.
The creativity came back!
Eisner greatly expanded Disney's media holdings with strategic acquisitions like ABC and ESPN in the 1990s while pioneering full-fledged movie sequels. This is how Disney got into the news and sports business.
Under his leadership, annual revenues grew from $1.5 billion in the early 1980s to over $30 billion by 2004. That's a lot of growth.
And this is where Steve Jobs shows up in the story. Disney's animation declined in the 2000s amid increasing executive turmoil, with Pixar head Steve Jobs blaming Eisner's micromanagement.
Eisner finally ceded his CEO role in 2005, despite shareholder unrest and lagging profits as rival studio DreamWorks thrived.
Veteran Disney executive Bob Chapek was tapped as CEO in February 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic erupted globally.
Bad times.
Facing unprecedented challenges, he oversaw temporary closures of Disney theme parks and delays of major films while also pushing the company’s streaming initiatives. And sad times.
However, Chapek drew criticism for public relations missteps amid controversy over Florida legislation, as well as Frustration from employees over cost-cutting measures during the pandemic.
With Disney’s stock struggling, he was removed just 2.5 years into his CEO tenure in November 2022, much sooner than expected.
Bob Iger first became CEO in 2005, having impressively worked his way up from TV weatherman to head of ABC.
Now, that is impressive.
He quickly scored a significant win by negotiating Disney's acquisition of Pixar, bringing its creative guru John Lasseter aboard to revive Disney animation. Great move.
This set the tone for Iger's first 15 years as CEO, which were marked by major expansions into Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, which vastly grew Disney's intellectual property empire. This is how Disney gained the force.
Meanwhile, Iger spearheaded Disney's critical entry into streaming media. He opened Shanghai Disneyland, Disney's most significant foreign park investment.
Financial growth and stock prices soared for years under Iger's visionary leadership. However, creative tensions, high executive turnover, and streaming losses mounted by 2020, spurring Iger to announce his retirement.
He was coaxed back as CEO less than two years later in late 2022 though, after perceived faltering progress under his hand-picked successor, Bob Chapek.
With the company facing uncertainty, Iger's return signaled hopes he could guide Disney back to his earlier success.
He's back, and they are better than ever.
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