The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors Extends Robert A. Iger’s Contract

 

The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors announced today that it has extended Robert A. Iger’s contract as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer to July 2, 2019.

“Given Bob Iger’s outstanding leadership, his record of success in a changing media landscape, and his clear strategic vision for Disney’s future, it is obvious that the Company and its shareholders will be best served by his continued leadership as the Board conducts the robust process of identifying a successor and ensuring a smooth transition,” said Orin C. Smith, Independent Lead Director of the Disney Board.

Mr. Smith continued: “Mr. Iger has led The Walt Disney Company to unprecedented success during his 11 years as CEO, driving Disney to new creative heights, expanding the Company’s global reach, fostering technological innovation, and delivering year-after-year of record financial results. During his tenure, Mr. Iger has created enormous value for shareholders, with total shareholder return of 448%, compared to 144% for the S&P 500, and a dramatic increase in the Company’s market capitalization to $177 billion from $46 billion.”

“Leading this great company is a tremendous privilege, and I am honored to have been asked to continue serving as CEO through July 2, 2019,” Mr. Iger said. “Even with the incredible success the Company has achieved, I am confident that Disney’s best days are still ahead, and I look forward to continuing to build on our proven strategy for growth while working with the Board to identify a successor as CEO and ensure a successful transition.”

Details of the agreement will be included in a Form 8-K filed today.

Since Mr. Iger, 66, became CEO, The Walt Disney Company has been recognized as one of the “Most Reputable Companies” in both America and the world by Forbes magazine (2006-2017); one of “America’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune magazine (2009-2017); one of the “World’s Most Respected Companies” by Barron’s (2009-2016); one of the “Best Places to Launch a Career” byBusinessWeek magazine (2006-2010); and as “Company of the Year” by Yahoo Finance (2013).

Disney Named the Company Americans Want to Work for Most

Fortune article, June 8, 2016
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When 10,000 adults in the U.S. were asked to pick their favored brands from the leading 100 companies of the Fortune 500, Disney was top of mind.

On Monday, Fortune announced that The Walt Disney Company was listed as the “Company that Americans Want to Work for Most.”

“Respondents were asked about corporate reputations, trust, influence and global impact. When asked which company they would most want to work for, respondents chose the 93-year-old entertainment giant,” the magazine stated.

This recognition comes on the heels of Disney being named “World’s Most Authentic Brand,”“World’s Most Powerful Brand,” a “Most Admired” company by Fortune and a “Most Reputable”company by Forbes.

Proud to Work at the Walt Disney Company

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This past March, I celebrated 25 years of being employed by The Walt Disney Company. Little did I know when I joined the company on March 29, 1990 that I’d be here this long or enjoy the company this much. Disney has a wonderful way of making employees (or Cast Members) feel special. Longevity is rewarded with service pins, congratulatory letters, service statues and even an end of year service celebration. Part of my March recognition even included a visit from WDW Ambassador Nathaniel Palma!

25th Anniversary

I think the best part about working for the Walt Disney World Company is knowing that I’m part of something bigger than a job. I’m working to make a difference in people’s lives. Each and every day, thousands upon thousands of people are delighted and entertained at Walt Disney World and I’m so glad that I have played a tiny role in that for over 25 years.

New CFO and CSO for The Walt Disney Company

Christine M. McCarthy Named Chief Financial Officer and Kevin Mayer Named Chief Strategy Officer of The Walt Disney Company

June 30, 2015

Christine M. McCarthy has been named Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Kevin Mayer has been named Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of The Walt Disney Company, effective immediately, it was announced today by Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

“Christine has done an incredible job as Disney’s Treasurer over the past 15 years, and her strong leadership and keen financial acumen make her an ideal Chief Financial Officer,” Mr. Iger said. “She is highly respected in the finance sector, and in this new role she will have even more impact on creating value for Disney shareholders.” Ms. McCarthy will report directly to Mr. Iger.

“Kevin has overseen Corporate Strategy and Business Development at a time of unprecedented growth for Disney, playing an integral role in our successful acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm,” Mr. Iger said. “With this promotion to the new role of Chief Strategy Officer he will continue to focus on growth opportunities and help position the company for the future.” Mr. Mayer, who previously reported to the Chief Financial Officer, will jointly report to Mr. Iger and Thomas O. Staggs, Chief Operating Officer.

As CFO, Ms. McCarthy will now oversee Investor Relations, Corporate Planning and Control, Tax, Corporate Treasury, Corporate Real Estate, Facilities, Integrated Supply Chain Management, and Corporate Citizenship. She succeeds James A. Rasulo as CFO.

“I am humbled and honored to be entrusted with the role of CFO of this incredibly dynamic company,” Ms. McCarthy said. “Under Bob’s leadership, Disney has delivered record results, and I look forward to working with our talented senior management team as we build on the company’s financial strength and strong balance sheet to deliver shareholder value.”

In Ms. McCarthy’s most recent role as Executive Vice President, Corporate Real Estate, Alliances and Treasurer, she developed a finance team responsible for treasury, corporate finance, capital markets, financial risk, international treasury and investments, credit, and risk management.

Mr. Mayer has served since 2005 as Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, and in his new role as Chief Strategy Officer he will oversee Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Acquisitions, Enterprise Information Technology, Innovation, Brand and Franchise Management, and Global Corporate Alliances.

“I’m extremely gratified to be given this opportunity to further expand Disney’s assets and businesses,” Mr. Mayer said. “Disney’s growth has been incredible these past several years, and I am proud of the role my group has played in facilitating that expansion and excited by the strategic opportunities that lie ahead for the company.”

In 2009 and 2011, readers of The Deal named Disney the Most Admired Corporate Dealmaker in the consumer sector.

Mr. Mayer rejoined Disney from L.E.K. Consulting LLC, where he was a partner and head of the Global Media and Entertainment practice. Prior to L.E.K., Mr. Mayer held leading positions at interactive and Internet businesses, including chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Interactive, where he managed all aspects of new media business, including content, sales, business and technology development, and distribution.

Mr. Mayer first joined Disney in 1993 as Manager, Strategic Planning, where he spearheaded strategy and business development for all of Disney’s interactive/Internet and television businesses worldwide. Later, he became Executive Vice President of the Internet group, responsible for the operations, business plans, creative direction and distribution of Disney’s popular Web sites, including ESPN.com and ABCNews.com. Mr. Mayer received his M.B.A. from Harvard University in 1990, and holds a M.S.E.E. from San Diego State University and a B.S.M.E. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ms. McCarthy has served as Disney’s representative on the board of FM Global since 2010. She is also a Trustee of the Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena, Calif., and a mentor for the National Math and Science Initiative’s STEM program. She has been named multiple times to Treasury & Risk magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in Finance,” and in June, 2015 she was named Treasury Today magazine’s Woman of the Year, one of the profession’s most highly regarded benchmarks.

Prior to joining Disney, Ms. McCarthy was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Imperial Bancorp from 1997 to 2000. She held various finance and planning positions at First Interstate Bancorp from 1981 to 1996, and was elected Executive Vice President in Finance for First Interstate in 1993. Ms. McCarthy completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences at Smith College, where she received an award for excellence in botany, and later earned an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the Anderson School at UCLA.

Thomas O. Staggs Named Chief Operating Officer of The Walt Disney Company

February 5, 2015
The Walt Disney Company

New MickeyThomas O. Staggs has been named Chief Operating Officer of The Walt Disney Company, it was announced today by Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

A 25-year Disney veteran, Mr. Staggs is Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, overseeing the strategy, operations and creative development of the company’s iconic travel and leisure businesses. He will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer immediately, while continuing to lead Parks and Resorts until a successor is named. Disney’s senior management team, including all business segment leaders, will report jointly to Mr. Iger and Mr. Staggs, with the exception of the Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Chief Communications Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer, who will continue to report directly to Mr. Iger.

“Tom is an incredibly experienced, talented and versatile executive who has led Parks and Resorts during a time of unprecedented growth and expansion, including the construction of Shanghai Disney Resort. His proven ability to lead a business as well as his successful tenure as Disney’s former CFO make him an ideal Chief Operating Officer, expanding his portfolio into all the company’s businesses,” Mr. Iger said.  

“It’s a privilege to step into this role, and I am humbled and honored by the opportunity. I look forward to working more closely with Bob and the talented senior management team across the company to continue to build Disney’s future through unparalleled creativity, innovative technology and global expansion,” Mr. Staggs said.

Since 2010, Mr. Staggs has led Parks and Resorts’ global team of more than 130,000 Cast Members, Crew Members and Imagineers, with the segment delivering record revenue, profit and attendance levels. In addition to overseeing the development of Shanghai Disney Resort, and a new Avatar-themed land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, during Tom’s tenure, Disney has launched two new cruise ships; opened Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, in Hawai‘i; added three new lands at Hong Kong Disneyland; doubled the size of Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom; and completed a multi-year expansion of the Disneyland Resort with the addition of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure Park.

Prior to that, Mr. Staggs served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Walt Disney Company. He played a critical role in the execution of the acquisitions of Capital Cities/ABC, Pixar Animation Studios and Marvel Entertainment. As CFO for twelve years, he spearheaded the realignment of Disney’s performance goals toward the combination of profit growth and strong long-term capital returns and free cash flow. He has been praised by Wall Street for his financial and communications skills, and was consistently voted the entertainment industry’s No. 1 CFO by Institutional Investor magazine.

Mr. Staggs joined Disney in 1990 as Manager of Strategic Planning and quickly advanced through a series of positions of increased responsibility, leading to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer in 1998. Before joining Disney, he worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley & Co.

Mr. Staggs earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. 

Disney Among Top 15 Ideal Employers in 2014, Universum Student Survey

September 15, 2014 Article by Cynthia Momdjian 
 
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Universum, a global leader in employer branding, recently announced its annual “U.S. Top 100 Employers,” and we are pleased that The Walt Disney Company ranked high on all of its lists.

Disney landed at No. 1 on the Humanities list, No. 2 on the Business list, No. 8 on the Natural Science list, No. 9 on the Computer Science list, No. 9 on the Engineering list and No. 11 on the MBA list.

More than 46,000 business, computer science, engineering, humanities/liberal arts/education and natural sciences undergraduate students, along with MBA candidates, were surveyed between October 2013 and January 2014. Universum then created six lists based on responses from students within each academic discipline. Participants chose an unlimited number of employers they would consider working for from a list of 230. From their considered employers, students were asked to choose their top five “ideal” employers.

At Disney, we aim to provide employees highly creative and innovative atmospheres using the latest technology to deliver groundbreaking, memorable entertainment experiences for our global audiences. By doing so, the Company’s outstanding storytelling has engaged consumers everywhere. Whether it’s the phenomenal success of Frozen at the box office and beyond or expanding our theme park presence to Shanghai, we continue to remain committed to building strong brands, growing our franchises and delivering world-class guest experiences.

It’s gratifying to know that tomorrow’s dreamers and doers view Disney as an ideal employer, and we always look forward to welcoming the next generation of employees that will write the next chapter of our story. Visit DisneyCareers.com and DisneyInterns.com for more information about working at Disney, and follow Facebook.com/DisneyCareers and Facebook.com/DisneyInterns to learn about job and internship opportunities in real time.