Disney
1. Introduction
History of organization
The Walt Disney Company started off as a cartoon studio in 1923 and was established by Mr Walt Disney. In 1928, it released Steamboat Willie, featuring the appearance of Mickey Mouse, which received nine nominations for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 1949, Walt Disney Music Company was formed, releasing various music records from its cartoons. Six years later, Disneyland, the first Disney Park, was opened in California. In 1983, the Disney channel began to broadcast 18 hours of programmes per day1.
Company Overview
The Walt Disney Company is the one of the world’s leading company in the media & entertainment industry. It has the largest and best-known studio in Hollywood, and was voted as the world’s most admired company in Entertainment2. It comprises of 5 entities3 as seen in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1: Walt Disney’s business entities
Management Team Composition
The company’s management team comprises of the corporate and the business units4. The corporate unit oversees the running of the Walt Disney Company in areas such as finance, security, and business development. On the other hand, the business unit comprises representatives from various subsidiary groups like ESPN, Disney Media, and Disney Parks and resorts.
Demographics of Key Leaders
Walt Elias Disney, Founder of the Walt Disney Company
Walt Disney was born in 1901 in Chicago. With his brother, Roy Disney, he was the co-founder of Walt Disney Productions. Disney went to McKinley High School in Chicago, where he learnt cartoon drawing and photography. He took art classes at the Chicago Art Institute. He then started off as a newspaper artist in Kansas City, in 1919. After the bankruptcy of his first business, he pooled money with his brother and moved to Hollywood and started Walt Disney studios. He passed away in 1966 due to lung cancer. 5
Bob Iger, CEO (2005-Present)
History of organization
The Walt Disney Company started off as a cartoon studio in 1923 and was established by Mr Walt Disney. In 1928, it released Steamboat Willie, featuring the appearance of Mickey Mouse, which received nine nominations for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 1949, Walt Disney Music Company was formed, releasing various music records from its cartoons. Six years later, Disneyland, the first Disney Park, was opened in California. In 1983, the Disney channel began to broadcast 18 hours of programmes per day1.
Company Overview
The Walt Disney Company is the one of the world’s leading company in the media & entertainment industry. It has the largest and best-known studio in Hollywood, and was voted as the world’s most admired company in Entertainment2. It comprises of 5 entities3 as seen in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1: Walt Disney’s business entities
Management Team Composition
The company’s management team comprises of the corporate and the business units4. The corporate unit oversees the running of the Walt Disney Company in areas such as finance, security, and business development. On the other hand, the business unit comprises representatives from various subsidiary groups like ESPN, Disney Media, and Disney Parks and resorts.
Demographics of Key Leaders
Walt Elias Disney, Founder of the Walt Disney Company
Walt Disney was born in 1901 in Chicago. With his brother, Roy Disney, he was the co-founder of Walt Disney Productions. Disney went to McKinley High School in Chicago, where he learnt cartoon drawing and photography. He took art classes at the Chicago Art Institute. He then started off as a newspaper artist in Kansas City, in 1919. After the bankruptcy of his first business, he pooled money with his brother and moved to Hollywood and started Walt Disney studios. He passed away in 1966 due to lung cancer. 5
Bob Iger, CEO (2005-Present)