多年前,,《財(cái)富》雜志的前編輯賴辛基(Adam Lashinsky)告訴我,,我應(yīng)該寫一篇關(guān)于羅伯特·艾格永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)真正離開華特迪士尼公司(Walt Disney Company)的文章。在那之前,,我曾經(jīng)在2014年寫過一篇關(guān)于艾格的封面故事,,詳述了他為什么會(huì)成為娛樂和媒體史上備受推崇的首席執(zhí)行官之一。在那之前,,盡管他多次宣稱自己很快就會(huì)退休,,迪士尼董事會(huì)已經(jīng)多次與這位前天氣預(yù)報(bào)員續(xù)約(是的,,這是真的?。?。
我當(dāng)時(shí)并沒有寫那篇報(bào)道,。但你大概能夠猜到我在11月20日的晚上給前老板寫了什么:“你當(dāng)時(shí)的判斷沒錯(cuò),!”
盡管迪士尼面臨著諸多現(xiàn)實(shí)挑戰(zhàn),,但艾格將回歸并取代現(xiàn)任首席執(zhí)行官鮑勃·查佩克的消息還是讓很多人感到興奮,。(該公司股價(jià)在11月21日盤前交易中上漲約8%,,今年以來下跌逾40%,。)可以肯定的是,,艾格并不是第一位“回旋鏢首席執(zhí)行官”。他效仿星巴克(Starbucks)的霍華德·舒爾茨,、Reddit的史蒂夫·霍夫曼,,當(dāng)然還有蘋果(Apple)的史蒂夫·喬布斯,他和喬布斯過從甚密,。但正如我在2014年的簡介中強(qiáng)調(diào)的那樣,,艾格是一位富有遠(yuǎn)見的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者,在他擔(dān)任首席執(zhí)行官的頭15年里,,他不僅讓迪士尼實(shí)現(xiàn)了財(cái)務(wù)增長,,還讓迪士尼進(jìn)入了技術(shù)和創(chuàng)意創(chuàng)新時(shí)代,。他憑借堅(jiān)定的信念取得了成功。他的回歸確實(shí)令人興奮,,尤其是在迪士尼在查佩克的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下經(jīng)歷了平淡無奇(有時(shí)還存在爭議)的發(fā)展之后,。
在艾格的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下,迪士尼進(jìn)行了公司歷史上最大的幾筆投資,,收購了皮克斯(Pixar),、漫威(Marvel)、盧卡斯影業(yè)(Lucasfilm)和二十一世紀(jì)??怂构荆?1st Century Fox)等內(nèi)容巨頭,。(并非艾格的所有收購都獲得了回報(bào),但他的大型收購案肯定都獲得了回報(bào),。)艾格被批評在流媒體領(lǐng)域入場太晚,,但他在2019年推出的Disney+證明了他的口頭禪是對的:內(nèi)容為王。盡管越來越多的競爭對手進(jìn)入這個(gè)已經(jīng)飽和的市場,,但Disney+的訂戶數(shù)還是超出了其第一年的訂戶預(yù)期,。結(jié)論是什么?質(zhì)量為王,,在擔(dān)任迪士尼的首席執(zhí)行官期間,艾格無疑帶來了質(zhì)量,,也收購了以質(zhì)取勝的內(nèi)容巨頭,。
那么,接下來會(huì)發(fā)生什么呢,?
在2019年出版的《一生的旅程》(The Ride of a Lifetime)一書中,,艾格分享了他在經(jīng)營迪士尼期間學(xué)到的經(jīng)驗(yàn)。這些品質(zhì)包括樂觀,、勇氣,、果斷和公平。在未來的歲月里,,他將需要所有這些品質(zhì),。迪士尼即將面臨諸多挑戰(zhàn),比如經(jīng)濟(jì)緊縮,、通貨膨脹和復(fù)雜的地緣政治局勢,。此外,還有美國佛羅里達(dá)州關(guān)于同性戀權(quán)利的政治風(fēng)暴,,以及現(xiàn)在Disney+訂戶增長下滑等問題,。簡而言之:要處理的問題太多了,即使對“解決問題先生”來說也是如此,。
我的猜測是,,艾格首先會(huì)認(rèn)真審視迪士尼現(xiàn)任掌門人,,看看他需要在哪些方面進(jìn)行調(diào)整。(就我個(gè)人而言,,我很想知道他是否會(huì)讓已經(jīng)退休的長期擔(dān)任通訊主管的齊尼婭·穆夏復(fù)出,。)然后呢?好吧,,如果我們發(fā)現(xiàn)迪士尼做出了更多的大膽舉措,,我不會(huì)感到驚訝。另外,,公司的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)和通訊形式要更加果斷,,而不是說錯(cuò)話得罪人的那種。
時(shí)年71歲的艾格已經(jīng)同意簽訂兩年期的首席執(zhí)行官合約,,董事會(huì)表示,,他是能夠帶領(lǐng)公司度過這個(gè)“關(guān)鍵時(shí)刻”的不二人選。誠然,,從幾乎所有可以想象得到的指標(biāo)來看,,艾格作為首席執(zhí)行官都取得了成功——迪士尼在他的第一個(gè)任期內(nèi)取得了巨大的增長。但艾格有一件大事沒有做好:培養(yǎng)繼任者,。鮑勃·查佩克充其量是一位缺乏想象力的首席執(zhí)行官——而他所在的公司是一家全靠想象力取勝的公司,。艾格會(huì)在第二次時(shí)做好接班計(jì)劃嗎?如果不能的話,,我們可能會(huì)再次看到艾格續(xù)簽兩年期合約,。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
多年前,《財(cái)富》雜志的前編輯賴辛基(Adam Lashinsky)告訴我,,我應(yīng)該寫一篇關(guān)于羅伯特·艾格永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)真正離開華特迪士尼公司(Walt Disney Company)的文章,。在那之前,我曾經(jīng)在2014年寫過一篇關(guān)于艾格的封面故事,,詳述了他為什么會(huì)成為娛樂和媒體史上備受推崇的首席執(zhí)行官之一,。在那之前,盡管他多次宣稱自己很快就會(huì)退休,,迪士尼董事會(huì)已經(jīng)多次與這位前天氣預(yù)報(bào)員續(xù)約(是的,,這是真的!),。
我當(dāng)時(shí)并沒有寫那篇報(bào)道,。但你大概能夠猜到我在11月20日的晚上給前老板寫了什么:“你當(dāng)時(shí)的判斷沒錯(cuò)!”
盡管迪士尼面臨著諸多現(xiàn)實(shí)挑戰(zhàn),,但艾格將回歸并取代現(xiàn)任首席執(zhí)行官鮑勃·查佩克的消息還是讓很多人感到興奮,。(該公司股價(jià)在11月21日盤前交易中上漲約8%,今年以來下跌逾40%,。)可以肯定的是,,艾格并不是第一位“回旋鏢首席執(zhí)行官”,。他效仿星巴克(Starbucks)的霍華德·舒爾茨、Reddit的史蒂夫·霍夫曼,,當(dāng)然還有蘋果(Apple)的史蒂夫·喬布斯,,他和喬布斯過從甚密。但正如我在2014年的簡介中強(qiáng)調(diào)的那樣,,艾格是一位富有遠(yuǎn)見的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者,,在他擔(dān)任首席執(zhí)行官的頭15年里,他不僅讓迪士尼實(shí)現(xiàn)了財(cái)務(wù)增長,,還讓迪士尼進(jìn)入了技術(shù)和創(chuàng)意創(chuàng)新時(shí)代,。他憑借堅(jiān)定的信念取得了成功。他的回歸確實(shí)令人興奮,,尤其是在迪士尼在查佩克的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下經(jīng)歷了平淡無奇(有時(shí)還存在爭議)的發(fā)展之后,。
在艾格的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下,迪士尼進(jìn)行了公司歷史上最大的幾筆投資,,收購了皮克斯(Pixar),、漫威(Marvel)、盧卡斯影業(yè)(Lucasfilm)和二十一世紀(jì)??怂构荆?1st Century Fox)等內(nèi)容巨頭,。(并非艾格的所有收購都獲得了回報(bào),但他的大型收購案肯定都獲得了回報(bào),。)艾格被批評在流媒體領(lǐng)域入場太晚,,但他在2019年推出的Disney+證明了他的口頭禪是對的:內(nèi)容為王。盡管越來越多的競爭對手進(jìn)入這個(gè)已經(jīng)飽和的市場,,但Disney+的訂戶數(shù)還是超出了其第一年的訂戶預(yù)期。結(jié)論是什么,?質(zhì)量為王,,在擔(dān)任迪士尼的首席執(zhí)行官期間,艾格無疑帶來了質(zhì)量,,也收購了以質(zhì)取勝的內(nèi)容巨頭,。
那么,接下來會(huì)發(fā)生什么呢,?
在2019年出版的《一生的旅程》(The Ride of a Lifetime)一書中,,艾格分享了他在經(jīng)營迪士尼期間學(xué)到的經(jīng)驗(yàn)。這些品質(zhì)包括樂觀,、勇氣,、果斷和公平。在未來的歲月里,,他將需要所有這些品質(zhì),。迪士尼即將面臨諸多挑戰(zhàn),,比如經(jīng)濟(jì)緊縮、通貨膨脹和復(fù)雜的地緣政治局勢,。此外,,還有美國佛羅里達(dá)州關(guān)于同性戀權(quán)利的政治風(fēng)暴,以及現(xiàn)在Disney+訂戶增長下滑等問題,。簡而言之:要處理的問題太多了,,即使對“解決問題先生”來說也是如此。
我的猜測是,,艾格首先會(huì)認(rèn)真審視迪士尼現(xiàn)任掌門人,,看看他需要在哪些方面進(jìn)行調(diào)整。(就我個(gè)人而言,,我很想知道他是否會(huì)讓已經(jīng)退休的長期擔(dān)任通訊主管的齊尼婭·穆夏復(fù)出,。)然后呢?好吧,,如果我們發(fā)現(xiàn)迪士尼做出了更多的大膽舉措,,我不會(huì)感到驚訝。另外,,公司的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)和通訊形式要更加果斷,,而不是說錯(cuò)話得罪人的那種。
時(shí)年71歲的艾格已經(jīng)同意簽訂兩年期的首席執(zhí)行官合約,,董事會(huì)表示,,他是能夠帶領(lǐng)公司度過這個(gè)“關(guān)鍵時(shí)刻”的不二人選。誠然,,從幾乎所有可以想象得到的指標(biāo)來看,,艾格作為首席執(zhí)行官都取得了成功——迪士尼在他的第一個(gè)任期內(nèi)取得了巨大的增長。但艾格有一件大事沒有做好:培養(yǎng)繼任者,。鮑勃·查佩克充其量是一位缺乏想象力的首席執(zhí)行官——而他所在的公司是一家全靠想象力取勝的公司,。艾格會(huì)在第二次時(shí)做好接班計(jì)劃嗎?如果不能的話,,我們可能會(huì)再次看到艾格續(xù)簽兩年期合約,。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
Years ago, my former editor, Adam Lashinsky, told me I should write a piece about how Bob Iger would never truly leave the Walt Disney Company. This was after I’d written a 2014 cover story on Iger, detailing why he had become one of the most admired CEOs in entertainment and media history. And it was after the Disney board had already extended the former weatherman’s (yes, really!) contract multiple times, despite his multiple proclamations that he would soon retire.
I didn’t write that piece back then. But you can probably guess what I found myself writing to my former boss November 20 evening: “YOU WERE RIGHT.”
The news that Iger is coming back—ousting that other Bob, current CEO Chapek—has generated lots of excitement, despite the very real challenges Disney faces. (Shares of the company rose about 8% in premarket trading on November 21, after dropping more than 40% this year.) To be sure, Iger isn’t the first “boomerang CEO.” He follows the likes of Starbucks’ Howard Schultz, Reddit’s Steve Huffman, and of course Apple’s Steve Jobs, whom he was very close to, among others. But as I highlighted in my 2014 profile, Iger was a visionary leader who returned Disney not just to financial growth but to an era of technological and creative innovation during his first 15-year tenure as CEO. And he did it with unwavering resolve. His return, particularly after Disney’s unremarkable (and sometimes controversial) trajectory under Chapek, is indeed cause for excitement.
Under Iger, Disney made some of its biggest bets in the company’s history, buying up content powerhouses like Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox. (Not all of Iger’s bets paid off, but his big ones certainly did.) Iger was criticized for being late to the streaming party, but his launch of Disney+ in 2019 proved that his mantra was right: Content is King. Disney+ blew past its first-year subscriber expectations, even as more and more competitors entered the already-saturated market. The conclusion? Quality matters, and Iger brought—and bought—it in spades while serving as CEO of Disney.
So what happens next?
In his 2019 book, The Ride of a Lifetime, Iger shared the lessons he had learned while running Disney. Those included optimism, courage, decisiveness, and fairness. He will need all of those attributes in the months and years to come. Disney faces plenty of upcoming challenges, like a tightening economy, inflation, and a complex geopolitical landscape. There’s also the political >storm in Florida, over gay rights, and now-slumping subscriber growth for Disney+. In short: it’s a long list of things to fix, even for “Mr. Fix It.”
My guess is that Iger will first take a good, hard look at the people running Disney today and see where he needs to shake things up. (Personally, I’m dying to see if he will bring Zenia Mucha, Disney’s long-time communications head, out of retirement.) And then? Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some more bold bets out of Disney. And, a more decisive form of leadership and communication from the company—less of the put-your-foot-in-your-mouth type.
Iger, 71, has agreed to a two-year contract as CEO of Disney, with the board saying he is “uniquely positioned” to lead the company through this “pivotal time.” It’s true that Iger succeeded as CEO by almost every metric imaginable—Disney saw tremendous growth under his first reign. But there was one big thing Iger didn’t get right: Grooming his successor. Bob Chapek was an unimaginative CEO at best—at a company that’s all about imagining. Will Iger get his succession plan right the second time around? If not, we may see many more than two years of Iger. Again.