Disney shocked Wall Street—and most Disney insiders—yesterday with the sudden announcement that CEO Bob Iger would step down, handing the reins, effective immediately, to Bob Chapek, who has led Disney Parks since 2015. Iger will remain executive chairman until his contract runs out next year and told investors on a call shortly after the announcement that he will focus on the creative side of the business.
Iger took the helm at Disney following a period marked by poor performance and board conflict, turning the brand around and leading huge acquisitions, including Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Entertainment, Lucasfilm and most recently, the mega-deal that gave Disney all of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets and set the company up to compete with original content, as well as with the streaming service Hulu.
His many successes earned Iger not only goodwill on the Street, but accolades such as the Chief Executive of the Year Award in 2014. From 2005 to 2013, Disney’s total shareholder return was 202 percent and market cap reached $130 billion. Since then share price has only risen—an investment of $100 when Iger took the top spot would yield $644 today.
In speaking with Chief Executive’s J.P. Donlon about the changes he had made at Disney, Iger said: “These moves were not only designed to set us up in terms of future growth but to start shifting a culture and becoming a company that believed in itself again. I say this not to be critical of what happened before. But times had changed, and the needs of the company were very different. I took advantage of being a new CEO to make these moves. And they led to tangible, cultural change within the company.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
