NBA commissioner Adam Silver is on the shortlist to succeed Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to Front Office Sports.
Fox Business Network’s Charles Gasparino was the first to report the news.
While FOS’ source was unable to speak to the other names on the reported shortlist —which includes Candle Media co-founder and co-CEO Kevin Mayer, and Disney co-chairman Dana Walden — they clarified that Silver is only being considered for the top position, and cannot serve on Disney’s board due to the NBA’s broadcast partnership with the media giant causing a conflict of interest.
Silver’s contract with the league runs through 2024.
Iger — who returned to Disney in November after initially retiring in 2021 — was never intending to stay as the company’s chief executive for long, beginning his search for a new successor almost immediately following his return.
Disney struggled with Iger’s first successor — Bob Chapek — at the helm, missing revenue expectations in Q4 2022 while increasing its operating loss for streaming to $1.5 billion. Disney’s stock price jumped 6.3% following the announcement of Iger’s return.
A timeline for Silver — or any of the other candidates — to be hired at Disney is unknown at this time.
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