Peacemaker George Mitchell has been hired by Walt Disney to boost its corporate governance, one of many areas for which the entertainment giant has come under fire.

Mr Mitchell, a former US senator who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Northern Irish Good Friday peace accord, is to co-chair Disney's governance committee.

They're baby steps, but steps in the right direction

Kathy Styponias, Prudential Securities

The appointment, confirmed at a directors' meeting on Tuesday, follows calls for the firm to reform its board procedures.

The firm last month admitted it had employed the children of independent directors, raising questions over whether it had breached stock exchange rules.

Revival plan

Disney has also been criticised by shareholders over a series of disappointing results, with its ABC network struggling and theme park operations the latest to show weakness.

Will Disney be as tough as Belfast?

While pressure has mounted on Michael Eisner, chairman and chief executive since 1984, growth revival proposals he presented to the meeting were unanimously approved.

Disney, while failing to detail the plans, said they involved "specific near-term actions and longer-term growth initiatives for all divisions".

The firm failed to reveal whether directors had discussed a succession plan for Mr Eisner, which some investors have demanded.

Governance inquiry

Mr Mitchell's appointment follows the launch in January of a Disney-commissioned inquiry by consultant Ira Millstein into the firm's governance procedures.

Concerns have grown over Mr Eisner's control over the board.

The pressure is off Michael Eisner, for now

Mr Millstein's recommendations included expanding Disney's corporate governance committee.

He also proposed shrinking the board from 16 directors to about 12, and board resignations are expected later this year.

But Tuesday's meeting seems to have left unresolved the status of the three independent directors whose adult children had worked at Disney.

Market reaction

The results of the meeting received a modest welcome on Wall Street.

"They're baby steps, but steps in the right direction," said Prudential Securities analyst Kathy Styponias.

Disney shares stood up $0.23 at $14.98 in early trade in New York on Wednesday.