Bob Iger came to Ithaca College thinking he wanted to be a sportscaster. He got that opportunity on ICTV, but as he tells our students in his annual Skype into their S'Park class, he quickly learned that others were better at it than he was. However, he also discovered an unknown passion and talent in producing television—and as he likes to say, “it didn't turn out too bad!”
As Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Iger heads a $98.6 billion worldwide company that includes the iconic Disney Studios, ABC, ESPN, Disney Parks and Resorts, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox.
Iger officially joined the Disney senior management team in 1996 as Chairman of the Disney-owned ABC Group and in 1999 was given the additional responsibility of President, Walt Disney International. As Chairman of the ABC Group, Iger oversaw the broadcast television network and station group, cable television properties, and radio and publishing businesses and guided the complex merger between Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. and The Walt Disney Company. During Iger’s years with ABC, he obtained hands-on experience in every aspect of the television business—including news, sports, and entertainment—as well as program acquisition, rights negotiations, and business affairs. He began his career at ABC in 1974, right after graduating with his TVR degree.
Iger has been named one of the “World’s Most Powerful People” by Forbes magazine (2018); one of Fortune magazine's “25 Most Powerful People in Business” (2006, 2007); one of the “Top Gun CEOs” by Forbes magazine (2009); one of the “Best CEOs” by Institutional Investor magazine (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011); MarketWatch CEO of the Year by MarketWatch (2006); and “CEO of the Year” by Chief Executive (2014).
But he's never forgotten his IC roots—he graciously hosts IC events at Disney and regularly Skypes into our classes.
