The sudden departure of Disney chief financial officer Christine McCarthy from her role citing family medical leave poses complications for both filling that role permanently and succession plans to install a new CEO to replace Bob Iger, according to Wall Street analysts and industry experts.
McCarthy’s exit creates a domino effect that not only prolongs the search for her replacement until Iger is able to choose a successor but may push the chief executive to extend his contract beyond its initial two years in order to ensure the company is stable.
“It slows everything in the near-term because they have to do a search for the new CFO which has to include external parties,” Laura Martin, senior entertainment and internet analyst at Needham & Company told TheWrap.