Disney‘s board of directors has nominated former Apple executive Jeff Williams to join its ranks, which would expand the governing body to 11 members.
Shareholders will get to cast votes for or against Williams being added as an independent director, as well as on the re-election of the 10 existing directors, at next year’s annual shareholder meeting. The date for the meeting has not been set.
The board and management of Disney are entering a consequential period as CEO Bob Iger winds down his run. The company has said the board’s Succession Planning Committee will identify Iger’s successor early next year ahead of the expiration of his contract at the end of 2026. Iger is in his second stint running the company. He stepped away for more than two years, returning in November 2022 after two up-and-down years under Bob Chapek.
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Josh D’Amaro, who runs Disney’s theme parks, and Dana Walden, co-chair of entertainment, are widely considered the front-runners in the process, which has focused largely on internal candidates.
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Williams most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at Apple until his retirement earlier this year. After becoming COO in 2015, Williams oversaw Apple’s design team, in addition to managing all of Apple’s global supply chain, service, and support functions. In a nearly three-decade career with Apple, Williams steered the launch of the Apple Watch and developing the company’s health and fitness strategy.
“Jeff Williams is a highly accomplished executive who for decades helped steward one of the most innovative and admired companies that serves billions of consumers across the globe,” Disney board chairman James Gorman said in a statement. “Jeff’s proven leadership and unique experience at the intersection of technology, global operations and product design make him a valuable nominee to our board as the company continues to focus on creative storytelling and groundbreaking innovation.”
In large part through Iger, who cultivated a relationship with late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Disney and Apple have had deep ties. The company wound up acquiring Pixar, which Jobs co-founded, after being a longtime distributor of its animated films. Iger also served on Apple’s board of directors, stepping down when streaming service Apple TV launched in 2019.
Williams was named COO of Apple in December 2015. He joined the tech company in 1998 as head of worldwide procurement. In 2004 he was promoted to VP of Operations for Apple. He helped with the launch of the first iPhone in 2007 and went on to hold responsibility for worldwide product operations and oversee Apple’s supply chain, service and support. Prior to Apple, Williams held various engineering and operational roles at IBM.
“I have long admired Disney’s legacy of pairing imagination with innovation – leveraging new technologies in bold, creative ways to bring to life timeless stories and entertain its guests,” Williams said. “It is an honor to be nominated to the board of this storied company. I look forward to working with Disney’s talented leadership team and contributing to the company’s ongoing journey of creativity and excellence.”