Who knew Disney was laser focused on – a bathroom?
No, we’re not talking here about the need for parents to know where the potty is for those visits with bladder-filled kids.
No, this CNBC story reveals – seriously! – that the real bathroom problem at Disney was – again, seriously – the keys to the CEO’s executive bathroom. With CEO wannabe’s Bob Iger and Bob Chapek each demanding control. CNBC headlined it this way: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/
Disney’s wildest ride: Iger, Chapek and the making of an epic succession mess
CNBC reported – no kidding – this:
“After pushing back his retirement four times, Bob Iger finally made the leap. On Feb. 25, 2020, heannounced he would step down as Disney’s CEO. His hand-picked successor, Bob Chapek, then Disney’s parks chairman, would take over the day-to-day job of running the company, effective immediately.
As part of the changing of the guard, the Disney board suggested the new CEO should take over Iger’s expansive office at Disney headquarters in Burbank, California.
There was just one problem. Iger had no interest in moving out. He wasn’t truly leaving Disney, anyway. His succession plan allowed him to stay on as executive chairman for 22 months. Chapek would report to him and the board. Iger would also “direct the company’s creative endeavors” — nebulous phrasing suggesting he would retain control of movie and TV content and operations.
There was a practical reason Iger didn’t want to move out of his office. It had a private shower, built for former CEO Michael Eisner, and a vanity for shaving. Iger, now 72, consistently woke up around 4:15 a.m. to work out and then shower. On evenings when Iger was heading out for a Disney premiere, award show or benefit, he would often take a second shower — this time in the office.
Iger told Chapek that he lived for those “two-shower days,” according to people familiar with the conversation.”
Got all that? The key to running Disney is “living” for those “two-shower days.” And Iger simply didn’t want to move out of his office because it had the private shower – not to mention “a vanity for shaving.”
One shaving grace? Neither Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or Pluto can shave. And presumably as the stars of Disney they have their own showers.