Who is Michael Eisner and what is his history with Disney?
Michael Eisner served as CEO of the Walt Disney Company from September 22, 1984 to September 30, 2005. Prior to his involvement with the Walt Disney Company, Eisner worked as an assistant to the National Programming Director at ABC. Eisner climbed the corporate ladder and soon became ABC’s Senior Vice-President for programming and development.
Barry Diller, the one who recruited Eisner to work for ABC, became chairman of Paramount Pictures. Diller then hired Eisner and made him President and CEO of the movie company in 1976. It was during Eisner’s tenure that Paramount produced a string of hits including Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Beverly Hills Cop.
The Walt Disney Company was struggling and barely survived a corporate takeover after is founder’s death in 1966. In 1984, Sid Bass and Roy E. Disney hired Eisner and Frank Wells of Warner Bros. in an attempt to turn the company around.
Under Eisner and Wells, Walt Disney Company flourished, producing hits on an annual basis. It was also able to acquire several media and movie companies such as Miramax, ESPN, and ABC.
Conflict of interests occurred among the leaders of the company following Well’s death in 1994. Michael Ovitz was appointed by Eisner to fill the position left by Wells. Ovitz left Disney in December 1996, after only 14 months.
In 2003, Roy E. Disney, son of Disney co-founder Roy O. Disney, resigned as Disney vice chairman and chairman of Walt Disney Feature Animation. The following year, at Disney’s annual shareholders’ meeting, 43% of Disney’s shareholders voted to replace Eisner as chair. This move was chiefly pushed by former board members Roy Disney and Stanley Gold.
Eisner announced in March 2005 that he would resign, and stepped down six months later. He was replaced by Bob Iger.
