Chief Executive, Walt Disney Co.

Iger says his priority is to arrange for his replacement when his contract expires at the end of next year, after the Disney veteran’s prior choice was forced out by the board in November. With the 72-year-old back in the saddle, Iger wrestles with ballooning costs and growing competition for video streamer Disney+; balancing his brand’s sweet-spot of traditional values with the current clamor for societal change and cost-cutting amid recession worries, which is underway. Iger is also deciding whether to buy all of or sell Disney’s 67%-owned streamer Hulu and options for 80%-owned sports juggernaut ESPN as sports TV rights fragment.

YEARS ON THE LA500: 8