Part 5/11:
Critics have unfairly pinned Disney’s woes on Chapek, but the reality is far more complex. Iger, while a legendary figure in media management, is not necessarily the ideal person to lead a digital transformation or turnaround in today’s climate. His strength lies in building and maintaining creative businesses, not in executing drastic restructuring or cost-cutting, which are essential for Disney’s survival now.
Furthermore, Iger's own tenure was marked by costly acquisitions such as Marvel and Star Wars, which initially boosted Disney’s profile but now have become complex and expensive assets. His hands-off approach, favoring creative freedom, also led to budget overruns—most notably in streaming content development—long before Chapek’s arrival.