Disney’s decision to hire internal candidate Bob Iger as its chief executive means that headhunter Heidrick & Struggles has missed out on the chance to make an impression at one of the world’s most famous companies.

The media giant hired the US headhunter last year to find a successor to Michael Eisner, who steps down in September.

Former TV weatherman Iger has risen through the ranks at Disney and is seen as a safe pair of hands.

But the decision to hire an internal candidate meant the company had opted for evolution rather than revolution, said Michael Sheard, chairman of UK headhunter MGM International.

He added: “Someone from a different industry would be able to be far more radical. Someone from inside will have personal relationships with people on the board and it becomes much harder to be ruthless with them.”