Disney has announced that Josh D’Amaro, the current head of its parks division, will take over as the company’s CEO, succeeding Bob Iger. D’Amaro will be the ninth CEO in Disney’s long history, overseeing the theme parks, cruises, and resorts. The experiences division, which he has been leading since 2020, has been a significant revenue generator for the company, bringing in $36 billion in annual revenue in fiscal 2025 and employing 185,000 people globally.
Taking the helm at a time when Disney is enjoying success with box office hits like “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” as well as a strong streaming business, D’Amaro steps into the role amidst challenges facing the entertainment industry. Issues such as generative AI advancements, consolidation of streaming services, and government intervention in entertainment company operations have created uncertainty in the industry.
Disney’s careful selection process for its new CEO followed a previous unsuccessful attempt to find Iger’s replacement, which led to his return to the position in 2022. The company initiated a succession planning committee in 2023, with the actual search commencing in 2024 under the leadership of Gorman, a former executive chair at Morgan Stanley. Iger will continue to serve as a senior advisor and board member until his retirement at the end of the year.
The leadership change at Disney comes amid a period of upheaval and scrutiny for the company. Recent controversies involving Disney-owned ABC, such as the decision to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following comments made by the host, have raised concerns about external influences on entertainment companies. The industry faces challenges related to media censorship and government interference, exemplified by incidents involving other major studios like Paramount and their interactions with the Trump administration.
Internal candidates, including D’Amaro and Dana Walden, were considered for the CEO position, with D’Amaro ultimately selected for the role. D’Amaro’s extensive experience with Disney, dating back to 1998, positions him well to lead the company’s diverse entertainment portfolio. Walden, who joined Disney in 2019 after a long tenure at 21st Century Fox, will assume the new role of chief creative officer reporting to D’Amaro.
The appointments of D’Amaro and Walden as CEO and chief creative officer, respectively, are effective March 18, marking a new chapter in Disney’s leadership structure.