Disney could hire EA CEO Andrew Wilson to take over for Bob Iger.
The search for Bob Iger’s replacement as CEO of the Walt Disney Company is on. While many initially thought Disney would turn to an internal candidate like Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden or Disney Parks and Experiences head Josh D’Amaro, it seems as though the company is looking outside the mouse house for its next big cheese.
Bob Iger via CNBC Television YouTube
To identify a potential replacement for Iger, Disney enlisted the aid of headhunting firm Heidrick & Struggles. They came back with three candidates, one of which is EA CEO Andrew Wilson. This was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing inside sources within the Walt Disney Company.
While the hunt for a new Disney CEO is still very early on (despite Bob Iger claiming that he’d focus on identifying a replacement when he returned to the company after ousting Bob Chapek two years ago), it’s interesting that Disney would consider the EA CEO given the gaming company’s spotty history.
The studio gained a reputation in the 2010s for gobbling up smaller studios for their IPs, forcing changes that impacted the quality of their games, and then shutting them down once they failed (Which, come to think of it, does sound an awful lot like Disney…).
A screenshot from Mass Effect Legendary Edition (2021), BioWare
In gaming circles it was dubbed the “Evil Empire” and won Consumerist’s “Worst Company in America” award for both 2012 and 2013. It was also named the fifth most hated company in the United States by USA Today in 2018.
EA is also known for being a studio that loves including Loot Boxes, microtransactions, and paid DLC into its games. Its been accused of nickel and diming players and allowing those with more money to “pay to play” and ultimately gain advantages over others.
Most recently, EA has made headlines with the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a AAA game that was in development for more than a decade and has reportedly sold somewhere around 500,000 copies with 30,000 returns. The game prioritizes ESG and DEI themes throughout and often lectures the player on social matters.
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare
Wilson is a huge proponent of DEI initiatives, speaking openly about the need for representation in gaming in a letter on EA’s official website.
“Our living, growing franchises, like Apex Legends, The Sims, EA SPORTS FC, College Football and Madden NFL, reflect our commitment to inclusivity, community-driven play, and expanding authentic representation in our games. We are constantly challenging the status quo to shape the future of entertainment through programs like our accessibility patent pledge. Making gaming more accessible and inspiring others in our industry to do the same is central to who we are, what we do, and how we show up for players and fans.”
-Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA
(The more I write, the more I start to think that this might actually be a match made in heaven!)
While Wilson took the CEO position within EA in 2013, he’s been with the company since May of 2000. Before rising to the CEO role, he was the Executive VP of EA Sports and Origin. He also led the global EA sports business and EA’s digital PC service. Before that, he was the leader of EA’s Online Organization. This included the company’s business operations and direct-to-consumer services in Asia.
Additionally, Wilson was the VP and executive producer of all EA Sports FIFA games.
A screenshot from EA Sports FC 24 (2023), EA Canada & EA Romania
According to the Washington Journal article, Wilson interviewed to take over ESPN in 2018 and even engaged in talks with Bob Iger about selling EA to Disney. However, the negotiations ultimately fell through.
Up until now, many assumed that the four division bosses in Disney’s C-Suite encompassed the short list for Iger’s successor. That list includes:
- Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden
Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Alan Bergman
Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products head Josh D’Amaro
However, it seems as though the house of mouse is ready and willing to look elsewhere.
The company recently announced that Morgan Stanley Chairman James Gorman will become chairman of the Disney Board as of January 2, 2025. He recently oversaw the succession process at Morgan Stanley and Disney named him head of its CEO succession committee.
Pinocchio in Pinocchio (1940), Walt Disney Productions
“A critical priority before us is to appoint a new CEO,” Gorman said just last month. “Which we now expect to announce in early 2026. This timing reflects the progress the succession planning committee and the board are making, and will allow ample time for a successful transition before the conclusion of Bob Iger’s contract in December 2026.”
Do you think we’ll see Disney hire the EA CEO to lead the company? Would he uphold Walt Disney’s legacy? Will Disney ultimately go with an internal hire? What do you think about Bob Iger’s attempts at finding a replacement thus far? Sound off and let us know!
