Richard M. Bates, longtime senior vice president, U.S. government relations for The Walt Disney Company, has passed away.
Since 2010, Bates has overseen Disney’s interactions with federal and state governments and trade associations. He was a 29-year-old Disney veteran. Prior to joining Disney, he was Executive Director of the Democratic Convention Campaign Committee.
Disney CEO Bob Iger and CEO Bob Chapek have issued the following joint statement on his departure:
All of us at Disney are saddened by the sudden loss of our longtime colleague and dear friend Richard Bates. As head of our government relations team in Washington, DC, Richard was unparalleled in his field – widely respected for his incredible accomplishments and loved for his extraordinary kindness, compassion and irresistible humor. He was passionate about his work and approached it with the same sharpness and unwavering enthusiasm he showed when he first joined Disney three decades ago. For those of us who are fortunate enough to know Richard personally, his loss is great. He will be deeply missed, and our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Rose, their sons Ricky and Chris, and his entire family.