Which famous company once brought back a former CEO after his successor struggled – only for the returning boss to be fired again?
In 2022, Disney stunned Wall Street by firing CEO Bob Chapek and bringing back his predecessor, Bob Iger, who had previously led the company for 15 years.
Chapek had been personally selected to succeed Iger in 2020. But after less than three years, Disney’s board decided the company needed its former boss back.
It’s a fascinating reminder that replacing a legendary CEO doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes a new leader unlocks extraordinary growth, as Tim Cook did at Apple. Other times, the board ends up calling the old boss back.