Former Disney CEO Robert Iger will identify new investments and mentor founders in a day-to-day role as a venture partner at Thrive Capital
Mr. Iger won’t be working at the firm full time, though the “idea is for him to be involved in all the things that we do,” Mr. Kushner said in an interview.
Mr. Iger stepped down as Disney’s chief executive in February 2020, shifting to a role as executive chairman, in which he helped manage Disney’s creative pipeline. During his tenure as CEO, Disney’s share price increased more than fivefold and its annual net income more than quadrupled, helping cement his record as one of the most successful CEOs in modern entertainment history.
He and Mr. Kushner first met through Mr. Kushner’s wife, the fashion model Karlie Kloss, while Mr. Iger was still CEO of Disney. Mr. Kushner said he approached Mr. Iger about joining Thrive Capital after the executive stepped down as chairman of Disney’s board at the end of last year. Mr. Iger has been involved in a variety of ventures since his departure as executive chairman, especially startups in the media and technology industries.