Bob Iger returned to The Walt Disney Company with a very important task at hand: find the next CEO.

This time around, we’re hoping it sticks. Iger hand-picked Bob Chapek when he originally retired from the company, and now, speculation has started to swirl around just who might be his next choice. We’ve seen a handful of names pop up as potential contenders, but it looks like one candidate has shared he hopes he’ll get the job.

Since Bob Iger came back to Disney, we’ve been wondering who the second-time CEO might choose as his successor. A few names have been thrown into the ring, including Kevin Mayer — former Disney executive and current CEO of Candle Media.

Prior to leaving Disney, Mayer served as the head of the Direct-to-Consumer and International Division, overseeing projects like the launch of Disney+ and ESPN+. Mayer departed Disney in 2020 to become the CEO of TikTok, but resigned after 100 days. He’s been named as a potential replacement for Iger (though Disney has not confirmed anything) and it seems like it’s a role he might be interested in.

According to Sports Pro Media, Kevin Mayer has shared that when it comes to returning to Disney, he “will see what happens.” Mayer went on to say that his immediate focus is on his “investments and various advisory roles” including production firm Candle Media (which works closely with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine company.)

“The future’s bright and I’m doing the things I love to do,” continued Mayer, but that still doesn’t mean he’s counting out returning to Disney as CEO.

After Mayer’s initial departure from Disney, he shared in an interview with CNBC that he was disappointed when he wasn’t named as Iger’s successor the first time around, being passed over for Chapek.

When asked if he thought he would be the next CEO, he replied, “I was hoping I would be. I’m not sure hope and expectations are the same. It’s a nice job, CEO of Disney.”

For now, though, we’ll have to continue to speculate. Other potential replacements for Iger that have been named so far include Adam Silver, the current commissioner of the NBA; Dana Walden, current co-chair of Disney entertainment; Alan Bergman, the other co-chair of Disney entertainment; Josh D’Amaro, current chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products; Christine McCarthy, current Disney CFO; and Jimmy Pitaro, president of ESPN.

Iger isn’t alone in his search for a replacement. Mark Parker, who will be Disney’s next Chairman of the Walt Disney Company Board of Directors has been tasked with finding CEO Bob Iger’s replacement by way of a Succession Planning Committee.

We’ll continue to watch for more updates on Iger’s quest to find a successor as Disney’s CEO. Check out these posts for more updates on Iger and Disney:

• Disney Employees Fight Back Against Iger’s New Rule
• Bob Iger Makes “Stark Reversal in Strategy” at Disney
• Why Is Disney CEO Bob Iger Obsessed with Zootopia?
• Disney CEO Bob Iger Comments on Bob Chapek Selection

Keep following DFB for more of the latest Disney news!

Bob Iger Comments on His Search for the Next Disney CEO

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Who do you think should be the next Disney CEO? Let us know in the comments.

The post Former TikTok CEO Could REPLACE Bob Iger at Disney first appeared on the disney food blog.