Robert A Iger will take over as the chief executive officer of the Walt Dsney company with effect from September 30, 2005.
He will succeed Michael D Eisner, current CEO, who announced his intention to retire in a letter to the Board on September 9, 2004.
"After a lengthy and professional selection process, comparing both internal and external candidates against our criteria for CEO, I am pleased to announce the decision of the Walt Disney board of directors to select Robert Iger as the company's next chief executive officer," said Sen. George J Mitchell, chairman of The Walt Disney Company board of directors, in a media statement.
Describing Robert as an experienced, talented and visionary leader who has made crucial and substantial contributions toward Disney's strong performance.
Mitchell said, "We are excited at the prospect of Robert leading this company to new levels of financial and creative success in the years ahead."
"It is truly an honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of guiding this great company that occupies such an important place in the hearts and minds of millions the world over toward a very bright future," said Iger in a statement.
"It is with a considerable amount of satisfaction and even pride that I approach the end of my term as CEO of this company," said Michael D Eisner, former chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company.
Robert A Iger was named president and chief operating officer of The Walt Disney Company in January 2000. Iger had been chairman of the Disney-owned ABC Group, where he guided the complex merger of ABC with The Walt Disney Company.
Simultaneously, he was president of Walt Disney International, where his mission was to establish Disney's brand on a worldwide basis and consolidate international operations under a coordinated leadership.
Iger first became part of Disney's management team in 1996, when The Walt Disney Company acquired Capital Cities/ABC, where Iger had been president and chief operating officer.
During Iger's years with ABC, he obtained hands-on experience in virtually every aspect of the television network business, including news, sports and entertainment, as well as the business side of television such as program acquisition, rights negotiations and business affairs.
ABC saw tremendous growth during Iger's career there, becoming a market leader in network television and expanding into numerous cable and related ventures, including A&E, The History Channel, Lifetime, ESPN and ESPN-related businesses.
