Disney's Changing of The Guard May Be Having an Apple Moment

When the iconic (maybe that should read iConic) co-founder and CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, died in October of 2011 Tim Cook probably had the toughest job in corporate America … following in the footsteps of the visionary leader who resurrected Apple from the dead. In the year that followed, Cook’s criticisms piled up.  There was postulating that Steve Jobs would have fired Cook ^[1], insinuations that Jobs is “rolling over in his grave” with the changes that Cook had made^[2], and criticisms that Apple under Cook (and even Tim Cook himself) are just flat out boring ^[3].  So much so, even Marc Benioff (founder and CEO of Salesforce.com) Tweetstormed a number of criticisms including that he missed Steve Jobs as a result ^[4] .

Tim Cook's first product announcement as CEO of Apple

The story does get better in the next chapter.  In the years that followed, Apple would go on to release  the popular Apple Watch, introduce Air Pods, acquire Beats Electronics and Shazam, and launch the Apple TV+ streaming service which would go on to yield the award winning Ted Lasso series; to name a few.  The company would grow from $108 billion in annual revenues in 2011 to $365 billion in 2021; from a market capitalization of around $350 billion in 2011 to over $2.5 trillion in 2021. 

Bob Chapek and Bob Iger announcing the change in CEOs.

Currently, it seems that a similar drama is unfolding at the Walt Disney Company.   Bob Chapek, too, has a tough job following the charismatic Iger.  Under Iger's tutelage, The Walt Disney Company  the company acquired Pixar, Lucas Arts, Marvel Entertainment, and a large part of 21st Century Fox. Disney's market capitalization went from around $46 billion in 2005, the year Iger was named CEO, to approximately $257 billion in 2019.   In February 2020 Bob Iger announced he was stepping down as CEO of the company and become Executive Chairman; initiating long overdue plans to retire.  Iger postponed retiring in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019. He will leave the company at the end of 2021.  Bob Chapek was immediately named CEO; beginning his tenure just as COVID-19 started quickly unfold.  By mid-March, the WHO would declare it a pandemic and President Trump would declare it a National Emergency ^[5] 

Nov 21, 2021: Complaint about Genie+ on Twitter. 

February 2022 will start Bob Chapek’s second year as CEO of the company and, like Cook early on, the criticisms are piling up; including a Change.org petition to have him fired.  Complaints about paid replacement for FastPass+ (Genie+ and the Lightning Lanes), food portions, and the pausing of the Walt Disney World Annual Passes are promulgating a number of social media spots.  The guest complaints seem to be largely centered on the parks, but that’s not stopping the criticisms from talent and high profile executives as well. Imagineering is unsettled about relocating to Florida, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings actor Simu Liu lashed out at Bob Chapek for the CEO’s use of the word “experiment” on an earnings call^[6], and Hollywood veteran and IAC Chairman Barry Diller noted in an interview on CNBC that Bob Iger was uncharitably pushed aside by his successor.   

"Iger now being pushed to the sidelines by his successor, not very nicely by the way. Certainly doesn't deserve it," says Barry Diller on future of $DIS. pic.twitter.com/nCOtzL8uBQ

— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) May 21, 2021

Time has shown that Tim Cook was a good choice to succeed Steve Jobs. With COVID-19 forcing the way companies to change the way they operate and a newly installed Chief Executive shaking up a company; this can really unsettle many of a company’s stakeholders.  From the parks to movies, from the early company history to the daily headlines of today; as hokey as it sounds I just love the magic of Disney.  My personal hope is that Bob Chapek is the right choice for the job.  The picture is not currently very bright but time will tell.   Bob Chapek clearly has a pretty tough job ahead of him. But  Bob Iger even stated to give the guy a chance: "'He’s very different from me,' Iger says. 'That doesn’t mean he can’t do the job well. Give him time. It’s the only fair thing to do.'" ^[7]

… and I remember when Tim Cook had the toughest job in corporate America.

References:

[1] Pendola, Rocco (Oct 2, 2012). "If Steve Jobs Were Alive, He Would Fire Tim Cook" TheStreet.com.  Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[2] Diaz, Jesus (May 29, 2012) "10 Changes That Must Have Steve Jobs Rolling In His Grave" gizmodo.com. Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[3 ] Brownlee, John (Sept 10, 2012) "Analyst: Tim Cook Is So Boring That Apple Will Have A Celebrity Intro The iPhone 5 Instead" CultOfMac.com. Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[4 ] Yarow, Jay (May 7, 2012) "Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Was Ripping Apple During The New iPad Event" BusinessInsider.com. Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[5 ] AJMC Staff (Jan 1, 2021) "A Timeline of COVID-19 Developments in 2020" AJMC.com. Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[6 ] Parker, Ryan (Aug 14, 2021) "‘Shang-Chi’ Star Simu Liu Fires Back at Disney CEO Over “Experiment” Comment" HollywoodReporter.com Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[7 ] Masters, Kim (Oct 6, 2021) "Bob Iger’s Long Goodbye" HollywoodReporter.com Accessed Nov 26, 2021