[tigger]

The rumor mill in the Macintosh world has been cranked up again on Steve Jobs maneuvering in for the Disney CEO job. Most of them have to do with Disney and Pixar getting back together rumors.

This IMO should be taken with a very large grain of salt.

Just wanted to share with you.

Could Steve Jobs replace Michael Eisner as Disney's CEO?! Various Apple-Disney rumors have come and gone over the years, with a near-zero track record.

Strangely enough, this time it's being taken seriously to a surprising degree by analysts and those in the industry. It would heal the Disney-Pixar relationship and could even have sweeping implications for both companies' content interests....

link

(there was a few others but I can't find them now..sorry)

[disneyguy]

Apple and Disney are similarly run companies. They both require very unique ideas, and I could easily see Jobs at Disney.

[ZarSu]

IMHO, Steve Jobs would do very good. Michael Eisner is not a very imaginative person and is more into the money part of the job, that is why he is not very well liked at Disney and it is really starting to show. Disney requires someone that is not afraid to try something new even if the number crunchers say it won’t work, Steve has showed this potential time and time again. Michael is more of an IBM/HP type of controller, not a job that requires imagination, just numbers period. Another thing is that I personally would love to see Pixar and Disney go back to making “good” movies, unlike the last few Disney has spewed out.

Heck, Michael does not have a clue about that is happening at the parks or even care, he makes a fool out of himself every time he shows his face there.

Please remember this is my personal opinion.

[MickeyMac]

I've been a long term Apple user, and remember when Jobs was brought back into the company when Apple was failing. He turned them around fairly rapidly and has done a tremendous job to make them as strong as it is today.

He also is savvy enough to bring on strong people to work with him.

I really hope this comes to pass. I could see him doing a tremendous job with Disney, and would LOVE to see what changes he would bring. You know whatever he thinks up, it won't be boring! :D

[tigger]

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

I've been a long term Apple user, and remember when Jobs was brought back into the company when Apple was failing. He turned them around fairly rapidly and has done a tremendous job to make them as strong as it is today.

He also is savvy enough to bring on strong people to work with him.

I really hope this comes to pass. I could see him doing a tremendous job with Disney, and would LOVE to see what changes he would bring. You know whatever he thinks up, it won't be boring! :D

Like a new video ipod bundled with Pixar/Classic Disney movies

Another rumor I have heard, and this one is way out there, is that HP will announce that they will reselling an HP branded version of the G5 iMac and/or Xservers. Like I said this one is way out there (I would guess if it is true it hinges on how well the HP branded ipods do).

[MerlinMatt]

My only anxiety about Jobs is that he's every bit as arrogant as Eisner.

For all of his faults, Eisner has actually done quite well for Disney. Granted, he didn't necessarily embrace all of Walt's visions, but Disney still feels every bit as magical as it did when Eisner took over. Disney stock trades well and has really only been hit recently, but that can be attributed to the state of the economy.

I do think it's time for Eisner to go, but I wouldn't be prepared to blindly support Jobs unless I saw his vision for the company.

[tigger]

More...yes more on the CEO track race...

Disney board to meet; may pick Eisner successor
September 20 - 11:44 EDT** Picking a successor for CEO Michael Eisner is expected to be on the agenda at today's Disney board meeting. As reported earlier this month, Eisner said he would step down when his contract expires in 2006. His choice for successor is Robert Iger, the company's president. But shareholders and former board members Roy Disney and Stanley Gold want the board to make an independent selection. Among the names circulated as an outside candidate are Yahoo CEO Terry Semel, Apple and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs, and News Corp. president Peter Chernin.

MerlinMatt, Jobs has shown that he can be a good CEO with his job at Pixar. I don't think that he is the best person for the but I think he sure understands brands and marketing better the Eisner.

My big worry is that if he did get the CEO position at Disney he would leave Apple...which would be a hugh loss for Apple.

[MerlinMatt]

tigger:

Well, I don't think that Semel or Chernin would be good choices because they are currently in media delivery only. At least Jobs has experience delivering actual product.

To me, it would either have to be Iger or Jobs, but again, I'd have to see what they'd want to do and just as importantly, how they'd plan on doing it.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by MerlinMatt

tigger:

Well, I don't think that Semel or Chernin would be good choices because they are currently in media delivery only. At least Jobs has experience delivering actual product.

To me, it would either have to be Iger or Jobs, but again, I'd have to see what they'd want to do and just as importantly, how they'd plan on doing it.

Totally agree.

[tigger]

Eisner out sooner...enter ???

Eisner Could Be Leaving Sooner Than Expected

POSTED: 11:48 AM EDT September 22, 2004
UPDATED: 12:19 PM EDT September 22, 2004

Walt Disney Co.'s chief executive Michael Eisner's exit from the company could come a lot sooner than expected, Local 6 News reported Wednesday.

Tuesday night, the Disney board revealed that it has already started a nationwide search for Eisner's replacement, according to the report.

Local 6 News confirmed that the company has set a deadline of next June for that person to be in place.

One of the possible contenders is Disney President Robert Iger, according to a report.

Board members said that Eisner may then stay on for a while to help the new chief executive officer.

Recently, Eisner announced that he was planning to step down in two years.

link

[Young_Donald]

If the new ceo has to be someone from Pixar I would give my vote to John Lasseter instead
John recently has talked in favour of hand-drawn animation and all Disney shorts saying that if it were for him he would have never closed Orlando Animation Studio and would never discontinue hand-drawn animated features
He also said while his kids love Disney hand-drawn cartoons and even black and white shorts and there is no reason to think that today kids no longer like hand-drawn animated movies
The best of this is that if as a ceo Lasseter would decide to bring hand-drawn animation back he wouldn't even have to buy all the materials (pencils, desks and so on) as Pixar bought them when Eisner sold them

On the other hands the creative executives at Disney said hand-drwn animation is boring and that Donald, Goofy, Pluto and Mickey are ugly, old-fashioned, sickening characters not suited for 21 century kids
Somone really need to fire those idiots !!!!!!!!
Not only 21 century kids love all Disney old classica, but they complain Quack Attack is no longer aired and they also loved the Disney Treasures even those bacl and white

So much for 21 century kids being computeroholic and tecnology addicted !!!

[tigger]

More on thoughts on Steve Jobs as Eisners replacement from Steve Forbes...

Steve Forbes: Jobs is the man for Disney
October 28 - 22:05 EDT** Steve Forbes, CEO of Forbes and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine, says that Apple CEO Steve Jobs would be the perfect successor to Disney's Michael Eisner. "Jobs knows high tech, Hollywood and finances as few Hollywood moguls do, and he knows the critical importance of creativity. Jobs' understanding of technology would be crucial... Jobs understands that when we get true broadband in this country, the Internet will radically change radio and TV broadcasting, just as it's already changing telephony and the distribution of music and videos. What about Apple Computer? Despite last summer's cancer surgery (a success), Jobs remains enormously creative and energetic. He could still head Disney and be, as he is now, Apple's guiding spirit. Walt Disney himself was an artistic genius. The Disney company needs that kind of vision again. Steve Jobs can provide it."

From MacMinute

[MickeyMac]

Tigger,

I hate to say it, but from outside of the Mac world, no one else is canvassing as hard for Jobs to... well, get the job. (bad punny Mac, bad punny! :D ) I really wish he would get it. I think the stuff he brings to the table is wonderful, and I think he might personally be looking for a change. He's driven by creative challenges, and drives those around him to be challenged creatively. I really think it would be a bold burst of positive energy. I don't see anyone else on the horizon who would be as positive an influence on Disney as Jobs would be. Iger, I think, has been in the trenches too long and yes, knows the company intimately, but does not have a macroscopic outlook on the company.

Too bad we weren't sitting on the board, huh? :D

[tigger]

MickeyMac,

I understand what you are saying and agree with you up to a point. I think the longer there is a CEO issue at Disney the better the chance Jobs gets a call and Iger's chances goes down. If Apple has a good Christmas with the ipod and the Incredibles is another hit, Jobs stock (bad punny myself ) goes up.

Would Jobs take the job is the bigger question.

[MickeyMac]

So you feel that time is on Job's side? I kind of get from him that it would be against him, meaning that the longer he's not offered the position, other offers would come up for him to jump on. Plus, you're so right, would he even take the job to begin with. Iger would in a heartbeat.

I know they've got to be considering others, too. I would LOVE to see the stock prices of Apple, Pixar, and Disney if Jobs gets jobbed (oh boy, if we were only headline writers... LOL!)