The Walt Disney Co. board of directors is scheduled to meet later this month, I’m told, and I imagine one topic will dominate: What to do with C.E.O. Bob Chapek? I wasn’t the only observer to note how bizarre it was to issue a vote of confidence in Chapek on Thursday as he fired Peter Rice, his top TV and streaming content executive, but not indicate whether Chapek will be retained before his contract expires in 8 months.
Maybe the board will offer more clarity after its formal meeting. Until then, the town is still perplexed by the Rice sacking, and how ham-fistedly Chapek seemed to handle it. Perhaps there is more to the backstory, and rumors are flying about which Disney executives may have been whispering in Chapek’s mouse ears, but the makeup of the board is certainly a factor here.
Let’s take a quick look at Disney’s 10 non-Chapek board members and their backgrounds:
