Bob Chapek says Bob Iger began reassuming control of Disney during the COVID-19 pandemic without consulting him. Chapek detailed the power struggle during a CNBC Squawk Box interview ahead of his memoir’s release.
What We Know: Chapek became Disney CEO in February 2020, shortly before the pandemic disrupted the company’s theme parks, cruise ships, film production, and other operations. Iger remained executive chairman after Chapek took over and later returned as CEO in November 2022. Chapek said Iger gradually reasserted control without discussing it with him, while Chapek raised concerns about Iger with Disney’s board during his tenure.
What They Said: “When I started hearing about lunches that he had and dinners that he had where he was absolutely trashing me, and I’d hear it two, three times in the same week, the same bullet points, the same talking points, I was like, ‘I’ve got a problem.’ … “It would have been great if, like other CEOs, he acted as a steward of my new role. It would have been one thing if he was neutral, but to be actually working against me, actively, I thought was just unbelievable.” -Bob Chapek
What Remains Unclear: Chapek’s account represents his perspective on the events that preceded his November 2022 removal. Iger has not publicly addressed every allegation Chapek makes in his memoir, leaving some details of their internal relationship disputed or unresolved.
What It Means: Chapek’s comments add to his explanation for why his tenure ended less than three years after he became CEO. Meanwhile, Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth debuts Tuesday, September 29th, giving Chapek a broader platform to detail his version of the Disney leadership transition.
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