Disney CEO Bob Iger Reveals His Plans For Retirement, This Time It's For Good!

Disney CEO Bob Iger is once again calling it quits from the media giant.

Iger famously left the company back in 2020. Only to return a couple of months later after the COVID-19 pandemic got serious. Ironically, Iger's most recent un-retirement isn't the first time that he's walked back his decision to ride off into the sunset. It turns out that he's flirted with retirement a couple of times before. Virtually every single time that his contract has been up since 2016. At the time he considered maybe buying the LA Clippers and going into retirement.

Another thing that he looked into was becoming commissioner of the MLB. None of those things came to fruition, and ultimately he stayed with Mickey Mouse. Now, though he's sure he's going to retire.

Iger recently told Variety that this time around he hasn't second guessed his decision. Basically alluding to the fact that when he wanted to retire back in 2020 he wasn't all in on the decision. As we mentioned Iger's been flirting with retirement for a while. He says he's done now, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a hard moment for him. Iger mentioned,

“I’m being resolute about it — this time around. I haven’t once second-guessed it or hesitated,” he would go on to add, “It’s bittersweet. I’m going to miss people, and I’m going to miss the creative process.”

The soon-to-be 71-year-old Iger is actually going to Disney World on his first trip as a retiree. He claims that the trip is a vacation, and he won't be conducting any type of business. Currently, he's still ironing some things out with the whole transition process in the company. He'll be free on the first day of 2022. He's already got a couple of ideas of what he wants to be doing on New Year's Eve which, coincidently he might be spending at a Walt Disney World Resort. Iger detailed his plans to Variety saying,

“I’m looking forward to unplugging more than anything else and waking up one day and not feeling all the responsibility that I have on my shoulders.” he would go on to add, “I guess I’m going to watch some college football without having to worry about the outcome of the ratings.”

It may be a bit of an awkward transition for the company as well. Back in 2020 Bob Chapek had already taken over as CEO of the Walt Disney company only to have Iger comeback to the position a couple of months later. Chapek will move back into the CEO position. With Susan Arnold stepping in for Iger as chairman of the board. Critics are certainly worried that Chapek's need to shape the company to his ideas could impact Disney negatively. Why fix what isn't broken?

The company certainly has enjoyed massive success under Iger. Will his departure be a change for the better? Meanwhile, Iger was asked if he's going to try and build up another company.

He mentioned that he's content with taking an advisory role, and won't work full time ever again.