Robert Iger Promoted to Chairman, ABC Inc., and to New Post of President, Disney International; Steven Bornstein Becomes President, ABC Group

Business Wire, Feb 25, 1999

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 1999--Robert A. Iger has been promoted to the newly created posts of chairman of the ABC Group and president of Walt Disney International, it was announced Thursday by Michael D. Eisner, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Co.

Steven M. Bornstein, formerly chairman of ESPN and president of ABC Sports, becomes president of ABC Inc., reporting to Iger.

In addition to his overall responsibility for ABC, Iger will assume geographic responsibility for managing all of Disney's activities outside the United States.

"This new international organization will establish a structure outside the U.S. similar to the one we have successfully used in this country," said Eisner. "While the development of our products will continue to be driven by the heads of our business units -- Joe Roth, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios; Steve Bornstein, president of ABC Inc.; Bo Boyd, chairman of Disney Consumer Products; Paul Pressler, president of Walt Disney Attractions; and Jake Winebaum, chairman of the Buena Vista Internet Group -- Bob will have the responsibility for the performance of the Disney Co. country by country. Individual managers for the particular region or country will report to Bob."

Iger will maintain offices in New York City and Burbank.

"By expanding Bob's responsibilities, we will increase our focus on building the Disney brand internationally," Eisner continued. "Bob's new role is designed to consolidate all of Disney's international operations under common leadership so Disney can act internationally with the same single voice and vision that it does domestically."

Sanford M. Litvack, Disney's senior executive vice president and chief of corporate operations, said: "By creating this new international organization, Disney will be establishing a geographically focused organization comparable to other leading consumer brand companies. The realignment will bring the overseas units together into a tighter working relationship."

Iger, 48, has served as president of ABC since February 1996. Prior to that he served as president and COO of Capital Cities/ABC Inc. from September 1994 and president of the ABC Television Network from January 1993 to August 1994.

A director of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Iger is a trustee of Ithaca College and a member of the American Film Institute. He and his wife, TV anchor Willow Bay, are parents of a son. Iger has two daughters from a previous marriage.

Bornstein started at ESPN in 1980 in the programming department and was promoted to increasingly responsible positions within the network's programming and production divisions. He became president of ESPN and later was named corporate vice president at Capital Cities/ABC Inc. In 1996, he was also named president of ABC Sports.

"Steve's unprecedented record of accomplishment at ESPN speaks eloquently of his vision and creativity," said Iger. "As president of ABC, he will impart the strong sense of teamwork and cooperation that has been a cornerstone of his efforts at ESPN."