Disney expands CEO search, COO Staggs leaving

LOS ANGELES — Tom Staggs, the veteran Walt Disney Co. executive who had been widely seen as the media company’s next chief executive officer (CEO), will step down on May 6 as the board expands its search for a successor to Bob Iger, Disney said on Monday.

The unexpected move came little more than a year after Mr. Staggs had been promoted to chief operating officer (COO), and about two years before Mr. Iger, Disney’s chief executive and chairman, is due to retire.

A source with knowledge of the situation said Mr. Staggs, 55, had learned he was not guaranteed the CEO job and that the board was going to broaden its search for a new leader. Mr. Staggs and the company mutually decided he should step down, said the source, who requested anonymity because the reasons were not announced.

Disney, which operates television networks, theme parks and a movie studio, said in a statement that the board aimed to evaluate a “robust slate of candidates.”

Mr. Iger has led Disney to record profits and executed successful acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel Entertainment and Star Wars producer Lucasfilm Ltd. But he recently acknowledged subscriber declines at Disney’s sports network ESPN, raising concern among investors about how the channel would adapt to online streaming technology that is rapidly drawing viewers away from traditional TV.

Disney’s board may have decided the company needs a new CEO with more experience in technology to navigate that change, Edward Jones analyst Robin Diedrich said in an interview.

“How do you transition to that five, 10, 15 years out?” said Mr. Diedrich, who recommends buying Disney shares. “There may be a need there for someone who has more experience with that consumer trend that is certainly here to stay.”