Successor tops Iger to-do list

IgerNow that he is set to remain at the top of the Walt Disney Co. through 2016, Bob Iger can start focusing on his five-year plan.High up on his to-do list is picking a successor.Many inside the Mouse House consider the job to be Tom Staggs' to lose.Since becoming chairman of the company's theme parks and resorts group in 2009, Staggs has presided over the division's largest expansion in years.It includes the $1 billion makeover of Anaheim's California Adventure; the first major overhaul of Fantasyland inside Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom since it opened in 1971; the addition of an "Avatar"-themed land at Animal Kingdom, also in Orlando; the launch of new cruise ships in its fleet; the opening of a Hawaiian resort; and the $4.4 billion construction of Shanghai Disneyland.That park is set to open in 2016, just as Iger is set to hand over the reins. The venture has been one of his pet projects: Disney's sixth park in the world will provide the company with a lucrative way to capitalize on growing leisure travel in China.Staggs had previously served as Disney's chief financial officer (he's climbed the ranks since 1990) but moved over to the parks division when Iger wanted him to switch posts with Jay Rasulo in order to gain more operational experience. Before making the move, Staggs was instrumental in helping Iger acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion.Staggs has recently undertaken a charm offensive as he's stepped up to serve as the face of the company -- a role in which he seems comfortable -- while giving presentations at Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim in August and while introducing revamps of "Star Tours" and new rides at California Adventure.But Rasulo shouldn't be counted out of the running just yet. The theme park vet has gained respect on Wall Street as CFO since 2009 and helped grow the company overseas. He joined the Mouse House in 1986 as director, strategic planning and development.Other candidates include Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney's media networks group, the company's biggest moneymaker, and president of Disney-ABC Television Group. Studio chairman Rich Ross may also be a contender, but the former Disney Channel topper has his hands full at the moment as he tries to overhaul Disney's film biz.Although bizzers are sure to obsess over the succession issue, Iger has more on his plate in the coming years than mulling over the candidates to replace him.In addition to investing heavily in Disney's parks group, Iger is in the midst of making big changes to the company's overseas operations, and like every other showbiz CEO he is navigating its move into the era of digital distribution, particularly as it pertains to VOD and homevid. He has earned praise as a risk-taker for embracing new platforms like Apple's iTunes, iPod and iPad but has also raised the ire of exhibitors for wanting to drastically shorten theatrical release windows.Iger is not adverse to shakeups within the Mouse, as evidenced in the Staggs-Rasulo job swap in 2009, choosing Ross to head up the film studio and moving homevideo vet Bob Chapek into posts where he first overhauled the studio's theatrical biz and now heads up consumer products.As he pushes Ross to make more Disney-branded films that can spin off sequels and tie-ins that the rest of the company can take advantage of (especially Marvel's superhero pics and Pixar's toons), Iger is still intent on making the company's games group profitable by 2013; it's switched gears to focus on making games for social networks and mobile platforms.Iger has said he's not opposed to improving the bottom line through acquisitions. Early in his tenure as CEO he orchestrated the Pixar acquisition, and he surprised the biz with his stealth purchase of Marvel in 2009. Iger also acquired social game developer Playdom last year and put its exec in charge of the Mouse's interactive arm.Under the terms of the five-year employment contract Disney revealed Friday, Iger, who has served as prexy and CEO since 2005, will become chairman and CEO at the Mouse's annual shareholders meeting in March, when current chairman John Pepper is to retire. By 2015, when the new CEO is set, he'll transition to a 15-month period as exec chairman, ending June 30, 2016. After that, Iger is expected to retire from Disney.His new contract will pay him $2.5 million a year, up $500,000 from his previous contract. For three years he will also receive an incentive bonus of $12 million, based on the company's operating income, cash flow and earnings per share, while he's eligible for another $15.5 million in stock options.The bonus and stock options drop to $6 million in 2015, once Iger becomes executive chairman.Last year, Iger earned $28 million in salary, bonus and other awards, according to proxy filings.(Cynthia Littleton contributed to this report.) Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com