In an appearance at the New York Times' DealBook Summit, Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, expressed his disappointment in the company's performance under the tenure of his predecessor, Bob Chapek. Iger, who returned as CEO just over a year ago, selected Chapek to succeed him in February 2020. However, he publicly stated his dismay at the transition period and the challenges the company faced during that time.

During the summit, Iger also addressed Disney's decision to pull advertising spending from X, formerly known as Twitter, after Elon Musk, X's owner, endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory on the platform. Musk agreed with a user who asserted that Jewish people were pushing dialectical hatred against whites. Iger stated that while he respects Musk's accomplishments, the public position Musk took was not considered positive for Disney's association.

Iger firmly stated that Disney's CEO succession planning process is currently robust. He confirmed that he will exit as chief executive when his contract, recently extended, concludes at the end of 2026. Since his return, Iger has been actively working on fixing problems within the company and tackling the challenges brought about by both his predecessor's decisions and the disruptions in the world and the business industry.

Regarding rumors that Disney was looking to sell its linear TV businesses, Iger clarified that the reports were false. He explained that while the company constantly evaluates their worth, there is no intention to sell them. Instead, Disney is focused on migrating these businesses onto the new streaming business model. Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, and Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN chief, have been actively working on making these businesses more efficient, which Iger believes is crucial for the future health of the company.

In his efforts to cut costs and address a "disconnect" between content spending and monetization, Iger implemented a cost-cutting plan that resulted in the elimination of over 8,000 jobs this year. The aim was to reduce Disney's spending by $5.5 billion.

During a Disney town hall meeting, Iger reassured employees that although he was aware of the challenges he would face upon his return, he never second-guessed his decision. He expressed confidence in his role as CEO and reiterated his commitment to the company's success.

Overall, Iger's public remarks at the DealBook Summit shed light on his disappointment with Disney's performance under Chapek's leadership, the company's decision to distance itself from X platform after Musk's endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory, and Disney's commitment to streamlining and adapting to the changing media landscape.

Note: This news article is generated based on the provided information, including entities, numbers, and dates mentioned in the context.