Susan Arnold to succeed Bob Iger as Disney chairman

Walt Disney Co. said Susan Arnold will take the reins from Bob Iger as chairman of the board at the entertainment giant.

Arnold, who has sat on the Mouse House’s board for 14 years and who has served as its independent lead director since 2018, will take the role of chairman when Iger departs the firm at the end of the year, the company said Tuesday.

Iger had served as chairman of the board since 2012, keeping the role even after he stepped down as CEO last year and handed the role to Bob Chapek. For the past year, Iger has held the role of executive chairman.

Arnold comes to Disney from The Carlyle Group, a private-equity giant where she worked as an operating executive from 2013 to 2021. Prior to that, Arnold served as President of Global Business Units at Procter & Gamble from 2007 to 2009. She also held various other jobs at P&G including, vice chair of beauty & health, as well as president of global personal beauty care & global feminine care. She also served as a director of both McDonald’s and NBTY.

“Susan is an incredibly esteemed executive whose wealth of experience, unwavering integrity, and expert judgment have been invaluable to the company since she first joined the Board in 2007,” Iger said. “Having most recently served as independent lead director, Susan is the perfect choice for chairman of the board, and I am confident the Company is well-positioned for continued success under her guidance and leadership.”

“As I step into this new role as chairman of the board, I look forward to continuing to serve the long-term interests of Disney’s shareholders and working closely with CEO Bob Chapek as he builds upon the company’s century-long legacy of creative excellence and innovation,” Arnold said.