Richard M. Bates, a former senior vice president of US Government Relations at The Walt Disney Company, passed away.
Since 2010, Bates has overseen Disney’s interactions with federal and state government entities and trade associations. He was a 29-year-old Disney veteran. Before working for Disney, Bates served as Executive Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger and Chief Executive Bob Chapek issued the following joint statement on his death:
All of us at Disney are heartbroken 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 unmatched in his field – widely respected for his incredible accomplishments and loved for his extraordinary kindness, compassion and irresistible wit. He was passionate about his work and approached it with the same cunning and unwavering enthusiasm he showed when he joined Disney three decades ago. For those of us who are fortunate enough to know Richard personally, his loss is profound. You will be deeply missed, and our sincere prayers and condolences go out to your wife Rose, your children Ricky and Chris and your entire family.