Disney has promoted Tom Staggs to the role of chief operating officer from his position of chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The appointment tags Staggs as the most likely exec to step into CEO Bob Iger’s shoes when his contract expires in 2018. Staggs will continue to head the parks division until a successor is named.
“Tom is an incredibly experienced, talented and versatile executive who has led Parks and Resorts during a time of unprecedented growth and expansion, including the construction of Shanghai Disney Resort,” Iger said in the announcement. “His proven ability to lead a business as well as his successful tenure as Disney’s former CFO make him an ideal Chief Operating Officer, expanding his portfolio into all the company’s businesses.”