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Disney's Bob Iger Resigns From Apple's Board of Directors

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Disney chief executive and chairman Bob Iger has resigned from Apple's board of directors as Apple and Disney prepare to launch competing streaming services, Apple announced today in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Iger resigned on September 10, the same day that Apple shared additional information on Apple TV+, which will cost $4.99 per month and will be launching November 1.

disneybobigerbloomberg-800x533.jpg
Image via Bloomberg​
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With the launches of both the Disney+ streaming service and Apple TV+ looming, there was speculation that Iger was at risk of losing his seat on Apple's board as Disney+ will be a major Apple TV+ competitor.

Both services will offer original streaming television shows and movies, with Disney+ priced at $6.99 per month and also set to launch in November.

Iger in April said that he didn't believe his role on Apple's board was problematic and that at the time, he was leaving board meetings whenever streaming services came up. He said he had to leave infrequently because TV was a "very small business" to Apple comparative to other areas like hardware, but with Apple TV+ set to launch soon, his position has changed.

Bob Iger first joined Apple's board of directors back in 2011, one month after the death of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

In a statement shared by The New York Times, Iger called Apple one of the world's most admired companies.
"I have the utmost respect for Tim Cook, his team at Apple and for my fellow board members. Apple is one of the world's most admired companies, known for the quality and integrity of its products and its people, and I am forever grateful to have served as a member of the company's board."
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Apple in turn called Iger an "exemplary" board member and a trusted business partner.
"More than anything, Bob is our friend. He leads with his heart, and he has always been generous with his time and advice. While we will greatly miss his contributions as a board member, we respect his decision, and we have every expectation that our relationship with both Bob and Disney will continue far into the future."
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With Iger's departure, Apple's board of directors includes seven members, which makes it one of the smallest among the major tech companies. Other board members include Art Levinson, James Bell, Al Gore, Tim Cook, Andrea Jung, Ronald Sugar, and Susan Wagner.

Article Link: Disney's Bob Iger Resigns From Apple's Board of Directors
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/09/13/bob-iger-leaves-apple-board-of-directors/
Five years ago I never would have guessed Apple would be competing with Disney. At this point, it’s probably easier to say who isn’t Apple’s competition than who is.
 
Friday afternoon news dump. Hmm...I wonder who they’ll add. For the size of the company it’s a pretty small board.
 
I forgot he was even on it tbh but this totally makes sense. It was a conflict of interest thing I'm sure. If I remember correctly, Google CEO Eric Schmidt was on the board some years back but withdrew for a similar reason, that now Apple was becoming more of a competitor and less of an ally.
 
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brinary001 said:
I forgot he was even on it tbh but this totally makes sense. It was a conflict of interest thing I'm sure. If I remember correctly, Google CEO Eric Schmidt was on the board some years back but withdrew for a similar reason, that now Apple was becoming more of a competitor and less of an ally.
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Eric S. was on the board prior to the iPhone release. There are many that considered it unethical for Google to release the Android OS soon after the iPhone came out. I don't remember if ES was known to recuse himself from the iOS/iPhone board discussions
 
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He can oversee the creation and development of the competing service as long as he leaves before launch day. LOL. :rolleyes:
 
both disney and apple once again show why they are class acts.
ethical. reasonable. not really too late. clear.

apple is positioning its own media-creation division that its building much in the pattern of disney.
i only hope that apple has intention to go where even controversial opinions are also given creative backing.
in other words, to me disney is fun. no matter what age, really.
but i hope apple is able to offer meaningful content, not just age-less fun content. content that makes us think.
 
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I find it interesting that Apple and Disney decided to call there streaming services “+”. I wonder if they were hoping to have some agreement between there streaming services that fell through?
 
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Scottsoapbox said:
He can oversee the creation and development of the competing service as long as he leaves before launch day. LOL. :rolleyes:
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I agree. Also, he says he’s been “leaving the room” whenever they talk about streaming? Doesn’t exactly seem like a very secure firewall. Shouldn’t he have left the Board several months ago? Maybe I’m overreacting.
 
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