Disney’s Number Two Exec Is Stepping Down

Tom Staggs on stage at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference. Photo courtesy: Josh Hallett

Walt Disney’s Tom Staggs will step down as chief operating officer on May 6, leaving many wondering who will take the helm after CEO Bob Iger’s retirement.

After being promoted a year ago, Staggs was expected to succeed Iger, who said in 2014 that he would step down in June 2018.

Disney said its board of directors will “broaden the scope of its succession planning process to identify and evaluate a robust slate of candidates for consideration.”

Staggs will stay on as a special adviser to Iger through the end of September.