Iger quits Apple board as D2C war begins
September 16, 2019
Disney CEO Bob Iger has quit Apple’s board, with a filing revealing he did so last week on the same day that the company unveiled the launch date and pricing for Apple TV+.
Iger told The Hollywood Reporter: “I have the utmost respect for Tim Cook, his team at Apple and for my fellow board members. Apple is one of the world’s most admired companies, known for the quality and integrity of its products and its people, and I am forever grateful to have served as a member of the company’s board.”
Iger’s seat was part of a long relationship between the companies, with former Apple CEO Steve Jobs heavily investing in Pixar – when Disney bought the company in 2006, Jobs became Disney’s largest single shareholder.
Apple TV+ is launching worldwide on November 1st at a price of $4.99 per month. Disney+, with a much broader proposition, launches on November 12th in select countries.
Apple said: “While we will greatly miss his contributions as a board member, we respect his decision, and we have every expectation that our relationship with both Bob and Disney will continue far into the future.”