Bob Iger

“I think it’s incredibly important to be open and accessible and treat people fairly and look them in the eye and tell them what is on your mind.” ~Bob Iger

Bob Iger is the head of the company children have coveted for years: Walt Disney. He became the president and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Disney in 2000 and just five years later was appointed CEO. Iger has been with the company through its acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. Originally from Long Island, New York, Iger attended Ithaca College for his undergraduate studies. He majored in Television & Radio, graduating magna cum laude with his B.A.

Iger certainly didn’t start his career at the top of the ranks; first, he was a local weatherman. In 1974, he became a member of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). From there, he climbed the corporate ladder, helping the company acquire David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.

In 1993, Bob Iger became president of ABC Network Television Group, a role that later led to his appointment as president and CEO of Capital Cities/ABC. The Walt Disney Company eventually bought Capital Cities/ABC; however, Iger retained his post through 1999, when he was promoted to president of Walt Disney International and chairman of the ABC Group.

Bob Iger has been with Disney ever since. He has successfully reconciled with former board members Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold, working with the two men toward a better Disney. Roy Disney, who had criticized Iger’s work under previous CEO Michael Eisner, praised Bob Iger’s vision and leadership of Disney as CEO.

Apart from his work as a successful businessman, Bob Iger has also been an active philanthropist for many years. In 2012, he received the Ambassador for Humanity award from Steven Spielberg’s USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education.