James P. Gorman to Lead Disney’s Succession Planning Committee

James P. Gorman, the executive chairman of Morgan Stanley, will chair Disney’s succession planning committee to select the company’s next CEO.

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Gorman previously oversaw the succession process at Morgan Stanley. In addition to Gorman, Disney board chairman Mark G. Parker and directors Mary T. Barra and Calvin R. McDonald will continue to serve on the Committee. CEO Bob Iger has said he is stepping aside in 2026.

“James is a highly respected leader, and we’ve asked him to serve as the new Chair of the Succession Planning Committee given his deep succession planning experience and long-term strategic mentality,” said Parker, who most recently served as the committee’s chair. “Succession planning is a top priority of the Board, and I am eager to continue collaborating with James on the Committee as we advance the important work we have already been doing to identify and prepare the next CEO of The Walt Disney Company.”

“I look forward to working alongside Mark and my other fellow Committee members in advising the Board as we continue to press forward expeditiously with this work,” Gorman said.

Gorman, who was formerly CEO at Morgan Stanley from 2010 through 2023, has announced he will be stepping down from his role as executive chairman at Morgan Stanley in December 2024. While at Morgan Stanley, Gorman publicly elevated three leaders: Ted Pick, Andy Saperstein and Dan Simkowitz, with Pick ultimately selected by the board as the next CEO.

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The special Succession Planning Committee was formed in January 2023 and has met six times in fiscal 2024. The committee and the board are in the process of reviewing internal and external candidates, in a process that includes mentorship from Iger, external coaching and working with the Board directors.

Succession is a priority at Disney after Bob Chapek was appointed as Iger’s successor, but parted ways with the company in November 2022, after two and a half years in the job. Iger returned to lead the company, with succession , as well as a streaming profits as his main goals.

On a podcast episode of Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa , released Wednesday, Iger reiterated that he is “very focused” on succession and that he would like to retire again.

“To say I am obsessed with it would probably be an understatement,” he said.

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