Chapek Memoir Reveals Disney Power Struggle During Pandemic
Bob Chapek, former Disney CEO, has written a memoir called 'Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth'. The book will be released by Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books on September 29, 2026. Chapek became Disney CEO in February 2020 and was ousted in November 2022 after a series of missteps.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the company during Chapek's tenure, shutting down parks, movie theaters, and cruise ships. The stakes were high, and Chapek wonders if he became the scapegoat for the company's struggles.
Chapek joined Disney in 1993 as marketing director for home entertainment and held key roles including president of Disney Consumer Products and chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In a regulatory filing, Disney stated that its board of directors determined Chapek was no longer the right person to serve as CEO due to significant developments and changes in the broader macroeconomic environment.