Editing Bob Iger (section)

==Career==
Iger began his media career in 1972 as the host of ''Campus Probe'', an Ithaca College television show. He dreamed of becoming a [[news anchor]] while he worked as a [[weather presenter|weatherman]] in Ithaca for five months, before shifting his career goals.<ref name="disneybc">{{cite web|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-chairman-and-ceo-robert-a-iger-enters-broadcasting-cable-hall-of-fame/|title=Disney Press Release|date=May 4, 2015|access-date=June 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name=nytimes2010>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/business/11iger.html| title= Is Disney's Chief Having a Cinderella Moment?| work=[[The New York Times]] | first=Brooks| last=Barnes| date=April 10, 2010|access-date= April 16, 2015}}</ref>

===American Broadcasting Company (ABC)===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Robert Iger and Roone Arledge.jpg|left|thumb|Iger in 1979. He is pictured alongside [[Roone Arledge]].]] -->
In 1974, Iger joined the [[American Broadcasting Company]] (ABC).<ref name="rfbbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/F-L/Iger-Robert-1951.html|title=Robert Iger biography|work=referenceforbusiness.com|access-date=July 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5442077 | newspaper=[[The Economist]] | title=Looking Beyond the Mouse | date=January 26, 2006}}</ref> His first job was performing menial labor on television sets for $150 a week (over $700, adjusted for inflation).<ref name="nyt-dowd-2019"/>

In 1988, Iger was the senior program executive for the [[Calgary Winter Olympics]]. The event was marred by disruptive weather and delayed events, and to fill the broadcast schedule Iger's team focused on human interest stories such as those of the [[Jamaican bobsled team]] and [[Eddie the Eagle]]. The event achieved record-high ratings for ABC, and Iger's performance under pressure caught the attention of ABC executives [[Daniel Burke (executive)|Daniel Burke]] and [[Thomas Murphy (broadcasting)|Thomas Murphy]], who subsequently championed Iger throughout his ascent at ABC.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Iger|first=Robert|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1138608550|title=The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons in Creative Leadership from the CEO of the Walt Disney Company|date=2019|publisher=Transworld Publishers Ltd|isbn=978-1-78763-047-5|location=London|pages=29–32|oclc=1138608550}}</ref>

In 1989, he was named head of [[ABC Entertainment]], green lighting shows such as ''[[Twin Peaks]]'', ''[[America's Funniest Home Videos]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5415019/bob-iger-disney/|title=Bob Iger|magazine= Time|accessdate=April 4, 2022}}</ref>  and ''[[Cop Rock]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Iger|first=Robert|title=The Ride of a Lifetime|publisher=Random House|year=2019|isbn=9780399592096|location=New York|pages=40–43}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/24/arts/abc-names-its-president-of-entertainment.html|title=ABC Names Its President of Entertainment|last=Carter|first=Bill|date=March 24, 1989|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 7, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He was president of the ABC Network Television Group from January 1993 to 1994, and was appointed as [[Capital Cities/ABC]] senior vice president in March 1993 and executive vice president in July 1993.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lowry|first1=Brian|title=ABC ups Iger, regroups divisions|url=https://variety.com/1993/scene/news/abc-ups-iger-regroups-divisions-108981/|access-date=May 19, 2015|work=Variety|date=July 27, 1993}}</ref> In 1994, Iger was named president and chief operating officer of ABC's corporate parent, Capital Cities/ABC.<ref name="cspandates">{{cite web|url=http://www.c-span.org/person/?robertiger|title=C-SPAN Biography of Mr. Robert A. Iger|publisher=C-SPAN.org|access-date=July 8, 2016}}</ref>

===The Walt Disney Company===
In 1995,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gara|first=Antoine|title=Disney's 1995 Deal For ABC Made Buffett Billions By Marrying Mickey Mouse With SportsCenter|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2017/05/23/disneys-1995-deal-for-abc-made-buffett-billions-by-marrying-mickey-mouse-with-espn/|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> the Walt Disney Company purchased Capital Cities/ABC and renamed it [[Walt Disney Television|ABC, Inc.]], where Iger remained chairman until 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/25/disney-ceo-bob-iger-steps-down-a-look-at-his-legacy.html|title=A look at Bob Iger's legacy at Disney as he steps down as CEO|work=CNBC |date=February 25, 2020 |accessdate=April 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name=encyclopediaoftelevision />

On February 25, 1999, Disney named Iger the president of Walt Disney International, the business unit that oversees Disney's international operations, as well as chairman of the ABC Group, removing him from day-to-day authority at ABC. Disney called the change a promotion for Iger.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/25/business/disney-names-new-president-in-reshuffling.html | work=The New York Times | title=Disney Names New President In Reshuffling | first=Bernard | last=Weinraub | date=January 25, 2000 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref>

Disney named Iger the president and chief operating officer (COO) on January 24, 2000, making him Disney's No. 2 executive under chairman and CEO, [[Michael Eisner]]. Disney had been without a separate president since Eisner assumed the role following the departure of [[Michael Ovitz]] in 1997, after sixteen months at Disney.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldsmith|first1=Jill|title=Iger tapped No. 2 as Mouse TV booms|url=https://variety.com/2000/biz/news/iger-tapped-no-2-as-mouse-tv-booms-1117765636/|access-date=June 7, 2014|work=Variety|date=January 24, 2000}}</ref>

In 2003, board members [[Roy E. Disney]] and [[Stanley Gold]] began a campaign called [[Roy E. Disney#Second "Save Disney" campaign (2003–2005)|"save Disney"]] against Eisner.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2003-12-01-disney-words_x.htm|title=War of words erupts at Walt Disney|last=McCarthy|first=Michael|date=December 2, 2003|work=USA Today|access-date=December 17, 2009|archive-date=September 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906104954/http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2003-12-01-disney-words_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2004/03/22/daily57.html|title=Disney launches more anti-Eisner sentiment|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref> As a result, Disney began a search for the next CEO to replace Eisner. On March 13, 2005, Disney announced that Iger would succeed Michael Eisner as CEO, and Iger was placed in charge of day-to-day operations, though Eisner held the title of CEO until he resigned on September 30, 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32493-2005Mar13.html|title=Disney Chooses Successor to Chief Executive Eisner|newspaper=Washington Post|first=Frank |last=Ahrens|access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> In July 2005, Disney and Gold dropped the campaign and agreed to work with Iger.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/08/AR2005070801789.html|title=Roy Disney, Company Resolve Their Disputes|last=Gentile|first=Gary|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 9, 2005|access-date=November 29, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

One of Iger's first major decisions as CEO was to reassign Disney's chief strategic officer, [[Peter Murphy (executive)|Peter Murphy]], and disband the company's [[Strategic Planning]] division.<ref>{{cite news|url-access=subscription |last1=Burt |first1=Tim |title=Disney demotes chief strategic officer |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e9791412-9ee3-11d9-82f0-00000e2511c8 |work=Financial Times |date=March 27, 2005}}</ref> It was around this time Iger started to become known as "Bob" rather than "Robert".

On January 24, 2006, under Iger's leadership, Disney announced it would acquire [[Pixar]] for $7.4 billion in an all-stock transaction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/disney_pixar_deal/|title=Disney buys Pixar|date= January 25, 2006|first=Paul R. |last=La Monica|website=money.cnn.com|access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> In the same year, Iger also re-acquired the rights to [[Walt Disney]]'s first star, [[Oswald the Lucky Rabbit]], from [[NBCUniversal]] by releasing sportscaster [[Al Michaels]] from [[ABC Sports]] to [[NBC Sports]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12750497/how-espn-traded-al-michaels-oswald-rabbit|title=How ESPN swapped Al Michaels for a cartoon rabbit|work=ESPN.com|access-date=November 30, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

In August 2009, Iger negotiated for Disney to acquire [[Marvel Entertainment]] and its associated assets for $4 billion. By 2014, Disney had grossed more than that amount at the box office through the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe|Marvel movies]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/disneys-bob-iger-on-success-of-marvel-guardians-of-the-galaxy-2014-8?r=US&IR=T|title=Bob Iger: The Marvel Brand Is On Fire|last1=Weisman|first1=Aly|date=August 6, 2014|access-date=May 21, 2016|work=[[Business Insider Australia]]}}</ref> On October 7, 2011, Disney announced that Iger would become chairman of the board, following [[John E. Pepper, Jr.|John Pepper]]'s retirement from the board in March 2012.<ref name=Succession>{{cite press release|title=The Walt Disney Company Extends Contract to 2016 for Robert A. Iger|url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2011/2011_1006_iger_sucession_plan.html|publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]]|access-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref>

In October 2012, Iger signed a deal with filmmaker [[George Lucas]] to purchase [[Lucasfilm]] for $4 billion. As a result, Disney acquired the rights to the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[Media franchise|multimedia franchise]] and ''[[Indiana Jones]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Leonard|first1=Devin|title=How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—and Its Plans for Star Wars|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-03-07/how-disney-bought-lucasfilm-and-its-plans-for-star-wars|access-date=May 21, 2016|publisher=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|date=March 8, 2013|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In March 2016, Iger announced the opening of the $5.5 billion [[Shanghai Disney Resort]] later that year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=David|title=Disney's Bob Iger discusses Shanghai resort, 'Star Wars' and ESPN at media conference|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-star-wars-shanghai-disney-20160308-story.html|access-date=May 21, 2016|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 8, 2016}}</ref>

Iger's contract as Disney's chairman and CEO was originally planned to run until June 30, 2018.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Graser|first1=Marc|url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/disney-extends-bob-iger-contract-through-2018-1201319561/|title=Bob Iger to Remain Disney Chief through 2018|access-date=October 8, 2014|work=Variety|date=October 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fritz|first1=Ben|title=Disney Extends CEO Bob Iger's Contract Until 2018|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-extends-bob-igers-contract-until-2018-1412273135|access-date=October 8, 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=October 2, 2014|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In March 2017, Disney extended Iger's term to July 2, 2019, and said he would be a consultant for the following three years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disney-ceo-idUSKBN16U23I|title=Disney extends CEO Iger's contract by a year to July 2019|date=March 23, 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kilday|first1=Gregg|title=Disney's Dilemma: Can Bob Iger Ever Find a Successor?|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneys-dilemma-can-bob-iger-ever-find-a-successor-989599|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 29, 2017|language=en}}</ref> In December 2017, Disney extended Iger's contract through 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-disney-iger-extends-contract-20171214-story.html|title=Disney extends CEO Bob Iger's contract through 2021  |first1=Meg |last1=James |first2=Ryan |last2=Faughnder |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref>

In July 2018 Disney and [[21st Century Fox]] shareholders approved a deal to allow [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|Disney to purchase Fox assets]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/27/twenty-first-century-fox-and-walt-disney-company-shareholders-approve-.html|title=Disney receives shareholder approval to buy Fox assets|last=Castillo|first=Michelle|date=July 27, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> The deal was finalized in March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/19/disney-fox-merger-complete/|title=The end of an era: Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox is finally complete|website=EW.com|language=en|access-date=March 29, 2019|first=Nick |last=Romano }}</ref>

In April 2019, it was announced that Iger would depart from his position as CEO and chairman of Disney when his contract expired in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tyko |first1=Kelly |last2=Keveney |first2=Bill |title=Disney CEO Robert Iger announces 2021 retirement |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/04/11/walt-disney-ceo-bob-iger-step-down-2021/3442748002/ |work=USA TODAY |date=April 11, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ibtimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/disney-ceo-bob-iger-will-step-down-2021-succession-process-underway-2785058|title=Disney CEO Bob Iger Will Step Down By 2021, Succession Process Underway|last1=Villasanta|first1=Arthur|date=April 11, 2019|work=International Business Times}}</ref> Iger resigned from Apple's board of directors on September 10, 2019, in order to avoid a [[conflict of interest]] as Disney and Apple prepared to launch competing streaming services [[Disney+]] and [[Apple TV+]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/13/bob-iger-resigns-from-apple-board.html|title=Disney CEO Bob Iger resigns from Apple board as companies come into conflict on streaming|work=CNBC|access-date=September 13, 2019|language=en}}</ref><ref name="nyt-barnes">{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Brooks |title=Iger Departs Board of Apple, Disney's New Streaming Competitor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/13/business/iger-apple-board.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 15, 2019 |date=September 13, 2019}}</ref>

In September 2019, Iger released his memoir ''[[The Ride of a Lifetime]]''.<ref name="prh-ride-lifetime">{{cite web |title=The Ride of a Lifetime |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/556683/the-ride-of-a-lifetime-by-robert-iger/9780399592096/ |publisher=Penguin Random House |access-date=September 22, 2019}}</ref><ref name="nyt-dowd-2019"/>

In 2020, Iger announced his intention to retire. On February 25 that year, the board of directors named [[Bob Chapek]] – then-chairman of [[Disney Parks, Experiences and Products]] – the new chief executive, while appointing Iger [[Chairperson#Executive chairperson|executive chairman]] (an ad hoc post) to oversee the transition.<ref name=StepDown>{{Cite web|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/bob-chapek-named-chief-executive-officer-of-the-walt-disney-company/|title=Bob Chapek Named Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company|date=February 25, 2020|website=The Walt Disney Company|last1=Mucha|first1=Zeina|last2=Singer|first2=Lowell}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/disney-bob-chapek-ceo-replacing-bob-iger-1202868176/|title=Disney Names Bob Chapek CEO As Bob Iger's Successor; Iger Becomes Executive Chairman Through 2021 |first1=Jill|last1=Goldsmith|first2=Patrick|last2=Hipes|publisher=Deadline.com|date=February 25, 2020|access-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> In April however, the board unexpectedly extended Iger's mandate until the end of 2021, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="IgerCoronavirus">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/business/media/disney-ceo-coronavirus.html |title=Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He's Fighting for Disney's Life. |last=Smith |first=Ben |date=April 13, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob Chapek Named Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company – The Walt Disney Company |author= |work=The Walt Disney Company |date= February 25, 2020|access-date=January 18, 2022 |url= https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/bob-chapek-named-chief-executive-officer-of-the-walt-disney-company/}}</ref> On December 31, 2021, Iger stepped down and was succeeded by [[Susan Arnold]] as chair of the board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Names Susan Arnold to Succeed Bob Iger as Chair of Board |last=Chan |first=J. Clara |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date= December 2021|access-date=January 18, 2022 |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-susan-arnold-bob-iger-chairman-board-1235055856/}}</ref> However, on November 20, 2022, Chapek was ousted by the Disney board with Iger reinstated as CEO.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=November 21, 2022 |title=Disney Shocker! Bob Iger Back As CEO, Bob Chapek Out |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/disney-bob-iger-returns-ceo-bob-chapek-out-1235178223/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> At the time of his rejoining Disney, Iger initially agreed to hold the post for two years while looking for a successor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63698756 | title=Disney: Bob Iger returns to head the entertainment giant | date=November 21, 2022 | publisher=BBC News |access-date=November 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 13, 2023 |title=Bob Iger on Ron DeSantis, Gambling, and Making Job Cuts at Disney |url=https://time.com/6269006/bob-iger-interview-time100/ |access-date=July 1, 2023 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref> However, on July 12, 2023, Iger and Disney extended the contract until the end of 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delouya |first=Samantha |date=July 12, 2023 |title=Disney extends CEO Bob Iger's contract through 2026 {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/12/business/disney-bob-iger-contract/index.html |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Jefferson |first1=David |last2=Long |first2=Mike |last3=Quadrani |first3=Alexia |date=July 12, 2023 |title=The Walt Disney Company Board Of Directors Extends Robert A. Iger's Contract As CEO Through 2026 |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/the-walt-disney-company-board-of-directors-extends-robert-a-igers-contract-as-ceo-through-2026/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=The Walt Disney Company |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Company boards and other activities ===
On November 15, 2011, [[Apple Inc.]], led by CEO [[Tim Cook]], named Iger to its board of directors. Iger was reportedly responsible for making [[Steve Jobs]] Disney's largest shareholder after its all-stock acquisition of Jobs' Pixar.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-bob-iger-apple-board-261834|title=Disney Chief Bob Iger Joins Apple Board|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 30, 2018|language=en}}</ref> In September 2019, Iger resigned from his position on the board after Apple announced the pricing and release date of [[Apple TV+]], a subscription streaming service which would compete with Disney+ upon its launch in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leswing |first=Kif |title=Disney CEO Bob Iger resigns from Apple board as companies come into conflict on streaming |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/13/bob-iger-resigns-from-apple-board.html |access-date=7 November 2023 |publisher=CNBC |date=13 September 2019}}</ref>

In October 2020, he became a director of the dairy-replacement startup [[Perfect Day (company)|Perfect Day]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 21, 2020 |title=Disney's Bob Iger invests in animal-free dairy startup Perfect Day |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-perfect-day-bog-iger-idUSKBN2762GB |access-date=March 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob Iger goes from managing Mickey to directing a milk replacement startup as new Perfect Day boardmember |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/21/bob-iger-goes-from-managing-mickey-to-directing-a-milk-replacement-startup-as-new-perfect-day-boardmember/ |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=TechCrunch |date=October 21, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Iger joined the board of [[Genies, Inc.]] in March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=March 14, 2022 |title=Bob Iger Getting Into the Metaverse Business |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/bob-iger-avatar-metaverse-investment-1235110823/ |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

In July 2024, Iger and his wife, [[Willow Bay]], agreed to take a majority stake in [[Angel City FC]], a Los Angeles-based [[National Women's Soccer League]] team, with a $100&nbsp;million investment. To avoid any conflicts of interest, Iger agreed to recuse himself from all Disney and ESPN  business matters related to the women's soccer league.<ref>{{Cite news |last=James |first=Meg |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Willow Bay explains why she and Bob Iger bought Angel City FC: 'Culture-defining moment' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-07-17/willow-bay-bob-iger-buy-controlling-stake-angel-city-football-club |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>