The Walt Disney Company says company president Robert Iger will succeed Michael Eisner as chief executive officer. The U.S. media giant said Sunday that Mr. Iger was elected unanimously by the Disney board of directors and will take his new position on September 30.
Mr. Eisner, who has been Disney's CEO since 1984, will step down a year earlier than planned.
The 62-year-old Eisner led a turnaround at Disney in the early 1990s but has spent the past two years battling shareholders led by Roy Disney, nephew of the company's founder.
Mr. Eisner was stripped of his post as Disney chairman last year.
Disney is best known for animated films such as The Lion King and its theme parks including Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida.
Some information for this report provided by AP.