The power players at Disney who could succeed Bob Iger as CEO

Kevin Mayer — Disney chairman of direct-to-consumer and international

Kevin Mayer, 55, was named chairman of Disney's direct-to-consumer businesses last week — a role that will include overseeing the streaming services that ESPN and Disney are set to launch this spring and in 2019, respectively.

Mayer previously led corporate strategy at Disney since 2005. He oversaw and advised Bob Iger in the company's acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm, as well as its pending acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the largest in Disney's history.

Iger has now given Mayer the pivotal task of leading Disney's shift from traditional TV to on-demand services, which multiple outlets have pointed to as setting up Mayer to be a potential successor to Iger.

"Wall Street likes Kevin," Needham & Co analyst Laura Martin told Bloomberg of Mayer's promotion this week. "He's proven himself to be a visionary, of not being afraid of taking risk. Giving him these assets is a worthy experiment."

Mayer is also currently in charge of Disney's investment in the Hulu streaming service, its international TV networks, and program and advertising sales for ABC and ESPN.

In a statement announcing Mayer's promotion on Wednesday, Iger called Mayer "a proven leader who has played a critical role in bringing together the collection of creative and technological assets that will allow Disney to offer unparalleled entertainment experiences in a direct-to-consumer future."

Bob Chapek — Disney chairman of parks, experiences, and consumer products

Disney chairman of theme parks Bob Chapek, 57, added Disney's consumer products line to his purview last week. As with Mayer, Chapek's promotion has outlets highlighting him as a potential successor to Iger.

Chapek has worked at Disney for 24 years, in leadership roles that ranged from film distribution to home-video entertainment. He also previously served as president of Disney's consumer products line, which he now oversees as chairman.

Chapek has earned praise for delivering "steady returns" in heading the company's theme parks division since February 2015. He oversaw the opening of the Shanghai Disneyland park in 2016, which Disney has said is on track to be the most profitable Disney park globally.

Disney also noted in its year-end fiscal report last year that Chapek's parks division was among the only four major Disney divisions that posted an increase in sales and profit.

In a statement announcing Chapek's promotion on Wednesday, Bob Iger called Chapek the "perfect leader" to run the combined parks and products team, given his "impressive record of success at both."

James Pitaro — ESPN president and cochair of Disney Media Networks

Disney recently named company executive James Pitaro as the new president of ESPN and cochair of Disney Media Networks, reporting directly to Bob Iger.

Pitaro had previously chaired Disney's consumer products and interactive media divisions since 2016. He was also formerly a vice president and head of Yahoo! Media.

Sources told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that Pitaro is also in consideration to replace Bob Iger as CEO, but that he is considered a "longer shot" than both Mayer and Chapek.

Pitaro joined ESPN, a top asset for Disney, as cord-cutting has significantly narrowed the sports-media company's subscriber base. But Iger sees him as the right person to lead ESPN as the company adapts to the digital world.

"Jimmy forged his career at the intersection of technology, sports and media, and his vast experience and keen perspective will be invaluable in taking ESPN into the future," Iger said in a statement announcing Pitaro's new role.

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg also praised Pitaro's promotion, saying that her late husband Dave Goldberg called Pitaro "one of the strongest strategists and managers he knew."