Disney names next chairman, new CEO to be announced in 'early 2026'
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The Walt Disney Company named Morgan Stanley veteran James P. Gorman as chairman of the board, effective Jan. 2, 2025, and said he is already part of the team «working to identify and prepare the next chief executive officer,» with an announcement coming in «early 2026.»
Gorman will be stepping down from his role at Morgan Stanley on Dec. 31, 2024, according to a press release. He is currently chair of the Disney Board's Succession Planning Committee.
«James Gorman is an esteemed leader who has become an invaluable voice on the Disney Board since joining earlier this year, and I am extremely pleased that he has agreed to assume the role of Chairman upon my departure,» Mark G. Parker, who served on Disney's board for nine years, said in a statement. «Drawing on his vast experience, James is expertly guiding the extensive search process for a new CEO, which remains a top priority for the Board.»
Gorman had served as CEO of the Wall Street bank for 14 years and is credited with transforming it into a wealth management powerhouse.
DISNEY THEME PARK GUESTS WILL GET TO SKIP MORE LINES THAN EVER WITH HIGH-PRICED OPTION COMING THIS MONTH
James P. Gorman, chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley, testifies before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, April 10, 2019. (Aaron P. Bernstein / Reuters)
«I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as Disney’s Chairman at this important moment in the company’s history,» Gorman said in a statement. «A critical priority before us is to appoint a new CEO, which we now expect to announce in early 2026. This timing reflects the progress the Succession Planning Committee and the Board are making, and will allow
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