Chapek's Castle Walls: Disney Ex-CEO Pens Memoir of High-Stakes Drama

Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek's memoir, Behind The Castle Walls, is set to be released on September 29. The book chronicles his 30-year tenure at the company and the high-stakes maneuverings that took place behind the scenes during his time as CEO.

Chapek recounts his early years, raised in small-town Indiana by his mother and WWII veteran father. He graduated from Indiana University and earned an MBA from Michigan State before starting his career at Disney in 1993 as marketing director for Home Entertainment.

He went on to hold key roles including president of Consumer Products and chairman of Parks, Experiences and Products. In February 2020, he was named CEO when Bob Iger abruptly stepped down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapek's tenure was marked by controversy, including a public fight with star Scarlett Johansson over the release of Black Widow.

Chapek was also criticized for his response to legislation in Florida, which angered both company employees and Gov. Ron DeSantis. His leadership was further challenged when activist investor Nelson Peltz launched a proxy fight against Disney.