Why has Disney Named Josh D’Amaro as its Next CEO?

After a long-running succession saga, Disney has named Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO. He will take over from current CEO Bob Iger as of 18 March 2026. 

Bob will remain a key part of the company as a member of the board and senior advisor until his retirement on 31 December 2026. 

Discussing his appointment and his ambitions for the role, Josh says: “There is no limit to what Disney can achieve, and I am excited to work with our teams across the company and brilliant creative partners to honour Disney’s remarkable legacy while continuing to innovate, grow and deliver exceptional value for our consumers and shareholders. 

“I also want to express my gratitude to Bob Iger for his generous mentorship, his friendship, and the profound impact of his leadership.”

Josh D’Amaro’s Disney career

Josh first joined Disney in 1998 and, prior to his move to CEO, has held the role of Chairman of Disney Experiences – in which he manages operations for the company’s theme parks and resorts – since 2020. 

Some of his past positions across the company include leadership roles in finance, business strategy, marketing, creative development and operations. 

As Chairman of Disney Experiences, Josh oversees 12 theme parks and 57 resort hotels worldwide, and has played a key role in strategic plans for a new park in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, expected to open between 2030 and 2033.

Discussing the appointment of his replacement, Bob says “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. 

“His ability to combine creativity with operational excellence is exemplary and I am thrilled for Josh and the company.”

Disney’s CEO succession frontrunners

While Josh has been a favourite for the CEO role, another often-reported candidate was Dana Walden, Co-Chair of Disney Entertainment. 

With the recent reshuffle, she has been named President and Chief Creative Officer, a newly created role, also effective 18 March 2026. 

Reporting to Josh, she will work to ensure brand storytelling can engage audiences at scale and advance core business processes, according to a statement released by Disney. 

Bob says of the appointment: “In the years since Dana joined Disney, she has accumulated great knowledge about the many facets of our businesses and brands, and is very well prepared to be President and Chief Creative Officer.”

Bob Iger’s hunt for a successor

Bob first became CEO of Disney in 2005 and initially planned to retire in 2020, when Bob Chapek was named new CEO. 

He chose to remain as Executive Chairman, replacing his successor in 2022 after Bob Chapek was ousted by the board due to poor financial performance. 

To ensure future succession planning went smoothly, Disney’s Board of Directors formed a Succession Planning Committee, meeting regularly to assess internal and external candidates and plan for the potential impacts of succession decisions. 

As a part of this Committee, both Josh and Dana received mentorship from Bob, external leadership coaching and had direct engagement with the company’s directors. 

James Gorman, Chairman of The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors, says of the appointment: “Josh D’Amaro possesses that rare combination of inspiring leadership and innovation, a keen eye for strategic growth opportunities and a deep passion for the Disney brand and its people – all of which make him the right person to take the helm as Disney’s next CEO”.