Tag: disney

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…

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.

Michael Eisner said he plans to step down as Walt Disney chief executive when his contract expires in September 2006. Former Disney board members Stanley Gold and Roy Disney, who tried to oust Eisner earlier this year, went on the record in February saying that Apple and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs would make a great choice to run Disney after Eisner.

Apple today announced that the catalog of Walt Disney Records, including soundtracks from Disney’s classic animated films and Disney/Pixar’s computer-animated films, is now available exclusively on the iTunes Music Store (iTMS) through September 30, 2004. A new “Disney” genre page within the iTMS will feature a wide range of family entertainment including the soundtracks from Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo.

Former Disney board members Stanley Gold and Roy Disney think Apple and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs would make a great choice to run Disney if CEO Michael Eisner were to be ousted later this year. “There are five or six guys I believe can run this company,” said Gold. “Steve Jobs would absolutely be one of them.” Gold said he hasn’t approached Jobs, nor has Jobs asked about the position.

According to the Drudge Report, departing Disney board member Stanley Gold claims in an interview that Disney CEO Michael Eisner called him and others — including Apple and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs — “Shiite Muslims.” Gold said that meant Eisner believed his critics were too extreme in their views. A Disney spokeswoman said Eisner “categorically denies” calling anyone a “Shiite Muslim.”

Disney Interactive today announced Magic Artist Cartoon Maker, the latest CD-ROM in the company’s Magic Artist line of children’s products. Packaged in a two-disk set with Disney’s Magic Artist Deluxe software, the title offers tools and controls for designing cartoon shorts, complete with music, magical effects, props, titles, and credits. Users can also export cartoons as QuickTime movies.