Help Wanted at Mouse House

Michael Eisner has spent 20 years at the helm of Walt Disney Co., enjoying a tenure that has lasted longer than that of most other studio heads. When he recently announced that he would step down in 2006, a new light was cast on the issue of his succession. So the Business Journal asks:

Who should replace Michael Eisner as CEO of Disney?

Laurence Marks

Partner

Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

Obviously, (Robert) Iger is a good bet because he knows what is going on. I read the names (of the candidates) in the trade press, and they all seem like good people. Eisner has done some really good things in the last 20 years. Disney is not a company that just makes movies. It is a huge conglomerate. It does television, theme parks around the world, movie production and more. If you get one of the best guys in movie distribution or marketing, that may not be enough to do the job.

Mark Atkinson

General Manager, Worldwide Creative Services

Deluxe Digital Studios

I’m sure he’d like Iger to take his place. I would think Iger would be a good replacement. Jeffrey Katzenberg is perfectly happy at DreamWorks. Obviously, Disney needs someone who knows how to run a massive studio. Disney has so many holdings in so many businesses. Anyone but Michael Ovitz.

Mel Gragido

Executive Producer, Commercials and Music Videos

The Joneses Inc.

They should hire Steve Jobs. Jobs is a visionary. The most successful things Disney has done lately were with Pixar (Animation), which is run by Jobs. He understands the entertainment business, not necessarily the way agents and stars do, but the way people want the business to be. At Pixar, he had the vision to understand what people wanted in an animated story. He is also a talent magnet. If you want someone to bring Disney back in the 21st century, Jobs is the guy.

Arnold Peter

Partner

Lord Bissell & Brook LLP

I think Peter Chernin should be at the top of the list. He’s run a diversified, fully integrated company and he has an excellent reputation. He also worked with an owner that has a strong personality and does not have a problem taking direction from a board when necessary.

Erik Lomis

President, Distribution

MGM Distribution Co.

I’m not going to comment, but I wouldn’t turn the job down if they offered it to me.

Gary Singleman

Chief Engineer for Audio Post Production

Fox Digital

Iger. Obviously, Disney had very good success at Capital Cities. He’s a good businessman and he knows the broadcast industry. Cap Cities was a very profitable, well-run company at the time. It’s not really considered a big deal for us here in the rank and file. Eisner was a huge force in the ’80s and changed the industry. But now, the industry is moving in a whole different direction, with the integration of broadcast and film and TV production companies. I don’t think Iger will bring a radical change. I think they will want to go a little more conservative and have less concentration of power after Eisner.