Michael O Johnson

Early life

Michael O. Johnson is a former CEO of Herbalife Nutrition. He previously served as President of The Walt Disney Company, Publisher of Audio Times magazine, and held roles at The Movie Channel, Nickelodeon, and MTV channels of the Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company. Johnson received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Western State Colorado University.

Early career Disney

Johnson worked at the Walt Disney Company for 17 years at Walt Disney International before he became president in 2000. During that time, he expanded Disney's international home video business and concentrated on making Disney's global operations and business relations more efficient. He created Disney subsidiaries in Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, and increased Disney's international markets from 34 to 80. Under Johnson's leadership, Disney became the top home distribution organization, and led the company to produce over $1 billion in revenue. While individual films by Miyazaki had previously been licensed for the U.S., such as the Fox Video release of My Neighbor Totoro, an acquisition of the complete film library was made difficult, as Miyazaki's relationship with international redistribution had been soured by significantly altered releases of Miyazaki's films, such as the highly edited Manson International release of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind as Warriors of the Wind. After some negotiations, Johnson's team was able to secure the rights to Miyazaki's complete library.

Herbalife Johnson joined Herbalife Nutrition as CEO in 2003, and served as chairman beginning in 2007. Ackman's short position was widely covered by American media outlets and was the subject of the documentary Betting on Zero.

Johnson transitioned to the position of executive chairman in 2017, before returning to the role of chairman and CEO in 2019. During this time, Herbalife Nutrition grew its net sales from $1.1 billion in 2003 to $4.4 billion in 2017.

Johnson was made interim CEO at the beginning of 2019 following the resignation of Richard Goudis.

In October 2022, Michael O. Johnson was named chairman and interim chief executive officer following the departure of Dr. John Agwunobi.

In May 2025, after Stephan Gratziani appointed as Herbalife's new CEO, Michael O. Johnson transitioned to the position of executive chairman.