One of the first tasks Michael Ovitz was given on his appointment to Walt Disney in 1995 was to ?deal with? Robert Iger, now group president, and the only internal candidate in the running to take over as chief executive, Mr Ovitz claimed on Tuesday.

?I don't know why,? he told a Delaware court yesterday, but Michael Eisner, then chairman and chief executive, ?had a problem with Mr Iger and wanted me to deal with that?.