Disney President Abruptly Exits Role After 20+ Years at Company

A veteran of The Walt Disney Company has exited their role after over two decades.

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Disney’s longtime distribution executive, Justin Connolly, has exited the company ahead of a significant series of negotiations regarding ESPN. Connolly joined Disney over 20 years ago, serving as Director of ESPN Strategy and Operations. Connolly held several positions over the years, having a hand in affiliate business operations and third-party media sales.

Connolly’s exit is quite abrupt and unexpected, as the executive had just re-upped his contract with Disney and ESPN earlier this year. Connolly also participated in ESPN’s media briefing about the division’s upcoming streaming service. Other high-status executives from Disney and ESPN, including CEO Bob Iger and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, joined Connolly at the conference.

Per Deadline, it’s speculated that Connolly is headed to a new position with YouTube TV.

Platform Distribution EVP Sean Breen and Platform Distribution Strategy EVP Jimmy Zasowski will serve as interim leaders. All this comes before the launch of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service this fall.

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This is hardly the only personnel change The Walt Disney Company has seen, and it won’t be the last either, with longtime CEO Bob Iger set to exit the company in 2026. Iger became CEO in 2005, guiding Disney through some of its most challenging and rewarding times.

Under Iger, Disney purchased Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios. Disney also expanded its theme parks heavily, with massive expansion projects like Pandora—The World of Avatar and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

Intellectual property is obviously very important to Disney and Iger, with the CEO also overseeing the purchase of 20th Century Fox. This acquisition granted Disney the rights to classic animated programs like Family Guy and The Simpsons, iconic horror films like Alien, and a whole host of fan-favorite movie franchises.

Iger retired from his post in 2020, leaving the keys to the kingdom to his successor, Bob Chapek. However, Chapek’s time as CEO would be cut short in 2022, when Iger replaced him. Disney endured some rough times amid the COVID-19 pandemic, largely with its theme parks. Chapek was given the near-impossible task of steering the ship amid these unprecedented times. While Chapek certainly made mistakes, reports revealed he was seemingly used as a scapegoat for some of the company’s shortcomings.

The Disney board agreed to bring back Iger as CEO in late 2022. Iger’s original contract had him serve as CEO until 2024, but he snagged an extension through 2026. With roughly one year left, many have been theorizing who Disney’s next leader could be.

Popular frontrunners include Disney Parks & Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment Dana Walden, though it’s also speculated that Disney’s next leader may be an outsider. Disney has stated it will formally announce Iger’s successor in 2026.

Stay tuned here for all updates on The Walt Disney Company.