Disney leader.

Disney Leader: Walt Disney Co.'s board elected John E. Pepper Jr. as chairman. Pepper, the former chairman and chief executive of the Procter & Gamble Co., replaces former Sen. George J. Mitchell, who is retiring. Mitchell, who has served as Disney chairman since March 2004, will officially retire on Dec. 31 and Pepper will take over on Jan. 1. Pepper joined the Disney board in January, along with Orrin Smith, the former president and chief executive of Starbucks Coffee Corp. Disney is hoping that Pepper will bring some of his expertise in brand-building, corporate management and identifying markets. At Proctor & Gamble, Pepper helped the company develop markets in Eastern and Central Europe and China.