Robert Iger
Encyclopedia
Robert A. "Bob" Iger is the president and chief executive officer
of The Walt Disney Company
. He was named president of Disney in 2000, and later succeeded Michael Eisner
as chief executive in 2005, after a successful effort by Roy E. Disney
to shake-up the management of the company. Iger oversaw the acquisition of Pixar
in 2006, following a period of strained relations with the animation studio. He also led the company to acquire Marvel Entertainment
, further broadening the Disney company's character franchises, in 2009.
, New York
. His mother worked at Boardman Junior High School in Oceanside, New York
and his father was executive vice president and general manager of the Greenvale Marketing Corporation, and a professor of advertising and public relations.
Iger completed his undergraduate studies at Ithaca College
where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Television & Radio from Ithaca's Roy H. Park School of Communications
. He then began his career as a weatherman for a local television station. He joined the American Broadcasting Company
in 1974 and gradually rose through its ranks. Iger was instrumental in convincing ABC to pick up David Lynch's offbeat but influential Twin Peaks
. He served as president of the ABC Network Television Group from 1993-94, and then was named president and chief operating officer of ABC's corporate parent, Capital Cities/ABC. In 1996, The Walt Disney Company bought Capital Cities/ABC and renamed it ABC, Inc., where Iger remained president until 1999.
Disney named Iger its president and chief operating officer on January 25, 2000, making him the company's number two executive under Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner
. The company had been without a separate president since Eisner assumed the role following the departure of Michael Ovitz
in 1997, after sixteen months at Disney.
On March 13, 2005, Disney announced that Iger would succeed Eisner as chief executive officer. On March 26, Iger reassigned Peter Murphy, the company's chief strategic officer, and pledged to disband the company's strategic planning
division. Iger also vowed to restore much of the decision-making authority that the division had assumed to the company's individual business units.
The company reconciled with former board members Roy E. Disney
and Stanley Gold
, who in July 2005 dropped their "Save Disney" campaign and agreed to work with Iger. In the process, Roy Disney was named a director emeritus and consultant.
On January 24, 2006, Disney announced it would acquire Pixar
for $7.4 billion in an all-stock transaction. The merger installed animator John Lasseter
as chief creative officer of the Disney/Pixar animation studios and principal creative adviser for Walt Disney Imagineering
, the division that designs theme park attractions. It also made Steve Jobs
Disney's top shareholder with seven percent of outstanding shares, and gave him a new seat on Disney's board of directors. In the same year, he also re-acquired the rights to Walt Disney
's first star Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
from NBCUniversal to release sportscaster Al Michaels
from ABC Sports to NBC Sports
.
Roy Disney, who had been critical of Iger for his role as Eisner's deputy, issued this statement: "Animation has always been the heart and soul of the Walt Disney Company and it is wonderful to see Bob Iger and the company embrace that heritage by bringing the outstanding animation talent of the Pixar team back into the fold. This clearly solidifies the Walt Disney Company's position as the dominant leader in motion picture animation and we applaud and support Bob Iger's vision."
Iger has cited international expansion, technological innovation and a renewed focus on traditional animation as the company's top strategic priorities. On October 7, 2011, Disney announced that Iger will become chairman following John Pepper
's retirement from the board in March 2012.
On Tuesday November 15, 2011, Apple, Inc., now led by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook
after Steve Jobs's death, named Iger as a Director and named Genentech Chairman Arthur Levinson, an Apple board member with a past membership on rival Google
's board, as Jobs's replacement in the role of non-executive Chairman; both will serve on Apple's Audit
Committee (Jobs had worked with Iger in the Pixar acquisition- making Jobs Disney's largest shareholder, and Iger had let ABC shows become available on iTunes).
of $8,308,647. Iger earned a $13.5 million bonus in 2010, which was a 45.4% increase from 2009.
and has two children with Bay, and two from a previous marriage. His children are named Katie and Amanda (from his first marriage) and Robert Maxwell and Will (from his second marriage).
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. He was named president of Disney in 2000, and later succeeded Michael Eisner
Michael Eisner
Michael Dammann Eisner is an American businessman. He was the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until 2005.-Early life:...
as chief executive in 2005, after a successful effort by Roy E. Disney
Roy E. Disney
Roy Edward Disney, KCSG was a longtime senior executive for The Walt Disney Company, which his father Roy Oliver Disney and his uncle Walt Disney founded. At the time of his death he was a shareholder , and served as a consultant for the company and Director Emeritus for the Board of Directors...
to shake-up the management of the company. Iger oversaw the acquisition of Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
in 2006, following a period of strained relations with the animation studio. He also led the company to acquire Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC , formerly Marvel Enterprises and Toy Biz, Inc., is an American entertainment company formed from the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc....
, further broadening the Disney company's character franchises, in 2009.
Early life
Iger was born in Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His mother worked at Boardman Junior High School in Oceanside, New York
Oceanside, New York
Oceanside is a hamlet located in the south part of the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. The population was 32,109 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and his father was executive vice president and general manager of the Greenvale Marketing Corporation, and a professor of advertising and public relations.
Iger completed his undergraduate studies at Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Television & Radio from Ithaca's Roy H. Park School of Communications
Roy H. Park School of Communications
The Roy H. Park School of Communications, internationally recognized as a leading undergraduate communications school, is one of five schools at Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York. The school is named after legendary media executive Roy H...
. He then began his career as a weatherman for a local television station. He joined the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in 1974 and gradually rose through its ranks. Iger was instrumental in convincing ABC to pick up David Lynch's offbeat but influential Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
. He served as president of the ABC Network Television Group from 1993-94, and then was named president and chief operating officer of ABC's corporate parent, Capital Cities/ABC. In 1996, The Walt Disney Company bought Capital Cities/ABC and renamed it ABC, Inc., where Iger remained president until 1999.
Disney
On February 25, 1999, Disney named Iger president of Walt Disney International, the business unit that oversees Disney's international operations, as well as chairman of the ABC Group. Disney called the change a promotion for Iger. But the company's insistence was initially viewed with skepticism, as some thought Iger was merely being removed from day-to-day authority at ABC since ABC had been struggling.Disney named Iger its president and chief operating officer on January 25, 2000, making him the company's number two executive under Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner
Michael Eisner
Michael Dammann Eisner is an American businessman. He was the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until 2005.-Early life:...
. The company had been without a separate president since Eisner assumed the role following the departure of Michael Ovitz
Michael Ovitz
Michael S. Ovitz is an American talent agent who co-founded Creative Artists Agency in 1975 and served as its chairman until 1995. Ovitz later served as President of the Walt Disney Company from October 1995 to January 1997....
in 1997, after sixteen months at Disney.
On March 13, 2005, Disney announced that Iger would succeed Eisner as chief executive officer. On March 26, Iger reassigned Peter Murphy, the company's chief strategic officer, and pledged to disband the company's strategic planning
Strategic planning
Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. In order to determine the direction of the organization, it is necessary to understand its current position and the possible avenues...
division. Iger also vowed to restore much of the decision-making authority that the division had assumed to the company's individual business units.
The company reconciled with former board members Roy E. Disney
Roy E. Disney
Roy Edward Disney, KCSG was a longtime senior executive for The Walt Disney Company, which his father Roy Oliver Disney and his uncle Walt Disney founded. At the time of his death he was a shareholder , and served as a consultant for the company and Director Emeritus for the Board of Directors...
and Stanley Gold
Stanley Gold
Stanley Phillip Gold is President and CEO of Shamrock Holdings, Roy E. Disney's private investment company. He was on the Walt Disney Company's board of directors 1984; 1987-2003. He and Roy resigned to publicly campaign to oust then CEO and Chairman of the Board Michael Eisner. He also helped...
, who in July 2005 dropped their "Save Disney" campaign and agreed to work with Iger. In the process, Roy Disney was named a director emeritus and consultant.
On January 24, 2006, Disney announced it would acquire Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
for $7.4 billion in an all-stock transaction. The merger installed animator John Lasseter
John Lasseter
John Alan Lasseter is an American animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is also currently the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering....
as chief creative officer of the Disney/Pixar animation studios and principal creative adviser for Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide...
, the division that designs theme park attractions. It also made Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
Disney's top shareholder with seven percent of outstanding shares, and gave him a new seat on Disney's board of directors. In the same year, he also re-acquired the rights to Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's first star Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is an anthropomorphic rabbit and animated cartoon character created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney for films distributed by Universal Pictures in the 1920s and 1930s...
from NBCUniversal to release sportscaster Al Michaels
Al Michaels
Alan Richard "Al" Michaels is an American television sportscaster. Now employed by NBC Sports after nearly three decades with ABC Sports, Michaels is one of the most prominent members of his profession...
from ABC Sports to NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
.
Roy Disney, who had been critical of Iger for his role as Eisner's deputy, issued this statement: "Animation has always been the heart and soul of the Walt Disney Company and it is wonderful to see Bob Iger and the company embrace that heritage by bringing the outstanding animation talent of the Pixar team back into the fold. This clearly solidifies the Walt Disney Company's position as the dominant leader in motion picture animation and we applaud and support Bob Iger's vision."
Iger has cited international expansion, technological innovation and a renewed focus on traditional animation as the company's top strategic priorities. On October 7, 2011, Disney announced that Iger will become chairman following John Pepper
John E. Pepper, Jr.
John E. Pepper, Jr. serves as chief executive officer of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and chairman of the board of The Walt Disney Company. Previously, he served as vice president of finance and administration at Yale University from January 2004 to December 2005...
's retirement from the board in March 2012.
On Tuesday November 15, 2011, Apple, Inc., now led by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook
Tim Cook
Timothy D. "Tim" Cook is the chief executive officer of Apple Inc., having joined the company in March 1998. He was named the CEO of Apple after Steve Jobs announced his resignation on August 24, 2011.- Early life :...
after Steve Jobs's death, named Iger as a Director and named Genentech Chairman Arthur Levinson, an Apple board member with a past membership on rival Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
's board, as Jobs's replacement in the role of non-executive Chairman; both will serve on Apple's Audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
Committee (Jobs had worked with Iger in the Pixar acquisition- making Jobs Disney's largest shareholder, and Iger had let ABC shows become available on iTunes).
Compensation
While CEO of Walt Disney in 2009, Iger earned total compensation of $29,028,362, which included a base salary of $2,038,462, a cash bonus of $9,260,000, stock awards of $6,336,509 and option awardsEmployee stock option
An employee stock option is a call option on the common stock of a company, issued as a form of non-cash compensation. Restrictions on the option attempt to align the holder's interest with those of the business shareholders. If the company's stock rises, holders of options generally experience a...
of $8,308,647. Iger earned a $13.5 million bonus in 2010, which was a 45.4% increase from 2009.
Personal life
Iger is married to journalist Willow BayWillow Bay
Willow Bay is an American television correspondent, editor, author, former model, and wife of Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger. She is currently a Senior Editor for the Huffington Post and a special correspondent for Bloomberg Television.-Career:Bay was born Kristine Carlin Bay in New York, New...
and has two children with Bay, and two from a previous marriage. His children are named Katie and Amanda (from his first marriage) and Robert Maxwell and Will (from his second marriage).