Josh D'Amaro Named Disney CEO In Major Leadership Shift

Walt Disney Co. has made a decisive move to secure its future, naming Josh D'Amaro—the widely respected chair of Disney Experiences—as its next chief executive officer. D'Amaro, a veteran who has spent 28 years rising through the ranks of the entertainment titan, will officially take the helm on March 18, 2026. The announcement, made on February 3, 2026, comes as Disney works to stabilize its leadership after years of high-profile transitions and to chart a clear course through the shifting sands of modern media and entertainment.

For many inside and outside the company, this marks the end of a long-anticipated succession saga. Bob Iger, Disney’s current CEO and the architect of its modern era, will step down but remain as a senior advisor and board member until his retirement on December 31, 2026. Iger, who has led Disney for about two decades across two stints, expressed confidence in his successor, stating, "Josh D'Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO. He has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand, and a deep understanding of what resonates with our audiences, paired with the rigor and attention to detail required to deliver some of our most ambitious projects." (CNBC)

D'Amaro’s appointment follows a meticulous search process. According to CNBC, Disney’s board, led by chairman James Gorman, began vetting candidates as early as 2023. The committee considered more than 100 candidates before narrowing the field to D'Amaro and Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment. In the end, D'Amaro’s blend of creative vision, operational expertise, and business acumen set him apart. Gorman told CNBC, "We looked at all comers, we wanted whoever got this job to be the best person." He added, "We won't have the same drama we had last time, that I can assure you."

D'Amaro’s Disney journey began in 1998 at Disneyland Resort. Since then, he has held leadership roles in finance, business strategy, marketing, creative development, and operations. He served as president of Walt Disney World Resort before becoming chairman of Disney Experiences in 2020. In this role, he has overseen 12 theme parks, 54 resorts, and a workforce of 185,000 employees, generating $36 billion in annual revenue. Under his watch, Disney Experiences has delivered major projects such as World of Frozen and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and has pushed into digital frontiers through partnerships like the one with Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite (BBC).

Recent financial results underscore the importance of D'Amaro’s division. Disney’s experiences unit reported more than $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, with the company planning further expansion—including a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, separate from its ambitious $60 billion investment in theme parks over the next decade (CNBC).

Yet, the challenges awaiting D'Amaro are formidable. Disney’s core entertainment business is at a crossroads, grappling with the decline of traditional television, the fierce competition in streaming, and the ever-present demand for blockbuster content. Analyst Paolo Pescatore, quoted by the BBC, cautioned, "While it is a strong endorsement of D'Amaro's abilities to elevate Experiences to the fore... he should not lose sight of Disney's core capabilities. Disney can ill afford another messy handover."

Indeed, the shadow of Disney’s last leadership transition looms large. In 2020, Bob Chapek, then head of parks, was tapped as CEO, only to face immediate turmoil as the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of theme parks and movie theaters. Chapek’s tenure was marked by management missteps, rising costs, and public controversies—including disputes with high-profile talent like Scarlett Johansson. By late 2022, amid mounting criticism and a lagging share price, Iger was brought back to right the ship (BBC, CNBC).

Since his return, Iger has focused on restructuring, slashing $5.5 billion in costs, enacting layoffs affecting about 3% of Disney’s global workforce, and dividing the company into three main divisions: Disney Entertainment, ESPN and Sports, and Parks, Experiences and Products (CNBC). His efforts have stabilized Disney’s finances, but the company’s share price has remained volatile—dipping 1% after D'Amaro’s appointment and losing 7% despite beating quarterly earnings expectations (BBC, CNBC).

The political landscape has also added complexity. Disney has faced criticism from conservative politicians, most notably Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, over its perceived “woke” values. The company drew further scrutiny after it temporarily suspended comedian Jimmy Kimmel, following his comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk (BBC). Meanwhile, rising costs at Disney’s U.S. parks have frustrated some visitors, and investors continue to watch the company’s performance with a critical eye.

As part of the leadership transition, Dana Walden, seen as D'Amaro’s chief rival for the top job, has been named president and chief creative officer, reporting directly to D'Amaro. Walden, who will focus on Disney’s storytelling and content engine, is well-respected in the industry and known outside of work for her friendship with former Vice President Kamala Harris (BBC, CNBC). According to Disney Chairman James Gorman, "If you think about what is the heart of the Disney company, it's creativity. It's the amazing [intellectual property] that's been produced over decades." (CNBC)

The succession process itself was closely watched and, according to Gorman, "long, thorough, exhaustive." Unlike the abrupt and problematic handoff in 2020, this transition has been carefully orchestrated, with the entire Disney board engaged and external oversight involved. Iger, for his part, has emphasized the importance of a smooth transition: "The importance of the succession process cannot be overstated." (CNBC)

As D'Amaro prepares to take the reins, he inherits both a legacy of innovation and a set of daunting challenges. He will need to balance the reliable profits of the parks business with the creative demands of Disney’s film and television empire, all while navigating political headwinds and the fast-changing world of digital entertainment. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but for a company built on magic and reinvention, the next act is always just beginning.

With a new leader at the helm and a renewed focus on both creativity and operational excellence, Disney is poised for a new chapter—one that will test the mettle of its leadership and the enduring appeal of its brand.