For months, Hollywood has been engaged in a guessing game about Bob Chapek’s future as Disney’s chief executive, with detractors contending that missteps had sealed his fate with Disney’s board: His reign would soon be over.
Not so. The Walt Disney Company’s board renewed Mr. Chapek’s contract for another three years on Tuesday. That means that Mr.
Chapek could remain at the helm of Disney until at least 2025. Mr. Chapek, 63, faces a daunting to-do list. Disney’s stock price needs to be reinvigorated, to put it mildly.
The company’s balance sheet is still recovering from the pandemic. Employee morale needs improving. Disney has been struggling in China, with the Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland closing and reopening (and closing and reopening) because of coronavirus concerns, and Disney movies failing to get cleared for theatrical release by the Chinese authorities.