Under Iger's tenure, Disney acquired and spearheaded two of the world's most beloved franchises -- Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. He also took bold measures to boost long-term growth such as creating Disney+. Risk taking requires courage; some of Disney's decisions have backfired spectacularly, such as its decision to acquire Twitter for $13 billion, which turned out to be disastrous for them financially. 1. Long-Term Vision Disney's decision to retain Robert Iger as CEO until 2026 sent an unmistakable signal that they want him to provide long-term vision for their company. They reaffirmed their desire for him to put Disney+ on an income track toward profitability and determine the future for media side of business. Perhaps unpopular park decisions made under Chapek may have forced this decision anyway, however due to coronavirus pandemic slowdown it has been challenging for Disney to focus on core strengths of business. Iger was known for being an ambitious thinker who took risks on behalf of Disney, increasing its value from $48 billion when he took over in 2005 to $273 billion when his tenure came to an end in late 2014. With acquisitions such as Pixar, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox or opening new theme parks and making blockbuster movies Iger has amassed one of the world's best portfolios of assets. Over his 15-year tenure as CEO, Iger has fostered an environment of creativity and innovation within his company that has now become one of the most innovative entertainment brands. He understands exactly where its strengths lie while exploring ways to leverage them effectively internationally. As part of his vision, he understands that the best way to attract and retain talent is by cultivating an environment in which employees feel empowered to create something they care about. That includes providing employees with resources necessary for success while encouraging innovation over short-term profits. Iger has an outstanding track record when it comes to managing large, diverse groups of employees and has demonstrated an ability to build strong relationships at every level within his company. A master communicator, Iger can easily connect with employees at every point in time within their careers at Disney. He's well-regarded for his ability to expertly navigate difficult situations and isn't shy about speaking out on sensitive matters, which makes him an invaluable leader of his company during any troubled waters. 2. Financial Health Disney recently reported better-than-expected financials, including an impressive surge in both revenues and earnings per share compared to last year's same quarter. Investors will likely be pleased that Disney continues its strong performance across key areas like movies and music streaming services. One of the key challenges facing Disney is the ripple effects of the coronavirus pandemic on its parks and hotel businesses. Travel restrictions have had an extremely adverse impact on visitor numbers over the last several months, which will continue to strain company resources indefinitely. On the bright side, Disney boasts an excellent balance sheet and cash-generating ability. In its most recent quarter alone, Disney generated over $3 billion in operating cash flow despite reduced visitor attendance due to pandemic virus outbreak. The company is also taking steps to cut costs across its media businesses, with initiatives such as the integration of the 21st Century Fox assets estimated to reduce expenses by an estimated annual figure of approximately $2 billion over time. Furthermore, job reductions have been implemented within its parks and resorts division in order to improve efficiency and increase profitability. Finally, Disney continues to invest in its streaming services by planning to introduce a combined app for family-oriented Disney+ and general entertainment streaming platform Hulu before year's end, as well as adding an ad-supported option on European Disney+ accounts. Disney has long championed diversity and inclusion policies, even as it clashes with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over immigration policy. Disney is part of an increasing trend where major corporations support progressive social-political beliefs that put them in opposition with some of the country's most conservative political leaders - such as Apple, Salesforce, Eli Lilly and Delta who all take stands against restrictive voting laws in America. Disney is no exception but instead takes an alternative approach than other companies have done previously when dealing with such controversial topics as diversity or inclusion policies than many companies do in terms of business operations vs political correctness vs controversy than other companies do in dealing with issues pertaining to diversity versus inclusion policies than many companies do in dealing with this matter vs being politically correct than many companies that do in dealings with similar topics as other companies do in doing so in terms of supporting diversity vs inclusion policies than other companies have done previously. 3. Culture Disney is one of the world's best-loved brands. Their iconic products include movies, television shows and theme parks; additionally they have earned an impeccable reputation for quality and customer service - an attribute which has played a key role in their success. Disney's culture is family-centric with an emphasis on decency. This cultural trait reinforces a positive image for their brand while motivating employees to adopt behaviors that contribute to strategic success. Disney's culture can be an asset in their decision-making, yet it may limit expansion and innovation opportunities. For instance, their emphasis on family-friendly content hinders their ability to develop and market adult entertainment products. As such, Disney may be missing out on potential revenue and profits in this segment of the market, while their culture may prevent them from adapting quickly to changing consumer tastes. In a highly competitive industry, companies must constantly adapt in order to stay ahead of their rivals. To do this, they need an open culture that embraces change and innovation while having leaders that can drive that transformation and lead their teams into the future. Iger has an outstanding track record in driving growth and financial results at Disney. Under his direction, domestic box office revenue has steadily increased while he successfully oversaw major acquisitions and restructuring initiatives. Disney's board of directors believes it would be in its best interests to retain Iger as CEO so he may continue executing their long-term strategic plan for success. Disney is facing several difficulties, such as underperformance of its streaming service and decline in attendance for some of its marquee movies at the box office. Iger has demonstrated his abilities at handling such challenges effectively, leading Disney through this difficult period with ease. 4. Leadership A CEO is only as effective as the company they lead, and his or her style and culture will have an immediate effect on his team's performance. Iger has proven himself capable of inspiring his staff to work hard despite adversity; showing he's willing to step in when necessary to make difficult decisions when necessary. As Disney's CEO, Iger has championed innovation and change, helping the company thrive over the past 15 years. He pushed for unconventional projects - investing in animation and purchasing Pixar - as well as taking advantage of new technologies like streaming services and social media. Iger is widely respected by stakeholders for his ability to lead and drive companies forward, so his return is welcomed by them. Although not being a "boomerang CEO" may help, research from MIT Sloan Management Review indicates that returning CEOs tend to perform worse than newcomers in this role. Iger also stands out for a number of other reasons. He won't be filling a role that has already been filled, and has more stakeholder support than Chapek did - the latter earned many critics' ire for mishandling various legal matters including Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law and actress Scarlett Johansson's suit against Disney. As a result of these factors, Disney's decision to retain Iger as CEO does carry some risks. It will be interesting to watch as Iger attempts to address any missteps by his handpicked successor and continue leading through an uncertain economic environment. Iger has proven his leadership capabilities by cultivating positive company cultures; these qualities give him an advantage when competing for top spot at one of the world's most beloved entertainment brands - giving the company the wise decision of continuing trusting Iger for guidance through this transition period.