Disney Taps Josh D’Amaro as Next CEO, Ending Lengthy Succession Search

The Walt Disney Company has named Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, as its next chief executive officer.

The company’s board announced Tuesday that D’Amaro will take over as CEO following Disney’s annual shareholder meeting on March 18, 2026. He will succeed Bob Iger, who has cumulatively led the company for nearly two decades. Iger will transition into a senior adviser role and remain on Disney’s board until his retirement on December 31, 2026.

D’Amaro’s appointment brings to a close a closely watched executive succession processes, following years of internal turbulence and heightened investor scrutiny.

“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,” Iger said in a statement. “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.”

Alongside D’Amaro’s promotion, Disney announced that Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment and considered a leading contender for the top job, has been named president and chief creative officer. The new role also takes effect March 18, and Walden will report directly to D’Amaro.

“Dana Walden is an excellent leader who commands tremendous respect from the creative community,” Iger said. “Given that creativity is at the heart of everything Disney does, she is a wonderful choice to serve in this new leadership role. 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.”

D’Amaro joined Disney in 1998, beginning his career at Disneyland. Over nearly three decades, he has held roles across business, marketing, and operations, serving as chief financial officer of Disney Consumer Products Global Licensing, president of Disneyland Resort, and president of Walt Disney World Resort. He was promoted in May 2020 to his current role leading the company’s parks, cruises, consumer products, and Imagineering divisions.

In a statement, D’Amaro said: “I am immensely grateful to the board for entrusting me with leading a company that means so much to me and millions around the world. Disney’s strength has always come from our people and the creative excellence that defines our stories and experiences. 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 honor Disney’s remarkable legacy while continuing to innovate, grow, and deliver exceptional value for our consumers and shareholders.”

The board’s decision comes after a turbulent chapter in Disney’s leadership history. In February 2020, Iger handed the CEO role to Bob Chapek, who held the same position D’Amaro currently occupies. Chapek’s tenure coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and was marked by strategic disagreements and strained relationships with creative leadership. In November 2022, the board ousted Chapek and reinstated Iger as CEO.

That episode intensified pressure on Disney’s directors to execute a more stable succession plan. In October 2024, the board pledged to name a successor by early 2026.

Board chairman James Gorman said D’Amaro distinguished himself throughout the process.

“Throughout this search process, Josh has demonstrated a strong vision for the company’s future and a deep understanding of the creative spirit that makes Disney unique in an ever-changing marketplace,” Gorman said. “He has an outstanding record of business achievement, collaborating with some of the biggest names in entertainment to bring their stories to life in our parks, showcasing the power of combining Disney storytelling with cutting-edge technology. The Board believes he is exceptionally well prepared to guide this global company forward to serve our consumers around the world and create long-term value for shareholders.”

Walden joined the company in 2019 following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox, she has risen to oversee most of Disney’s television and streaming operations. Her portfolio includes ABC Entertainment, ABC News, FX, Hulu Originals, Disney Television Studios, National Geographic Content, and more.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential executives in television, Walden has played a central role in building Disney’s streaming platforms and developing much of the content that supports Disney+ and Hulu. Her candidacy for CEO had also raised expectations that she could become the first woman to lead the company.

The certainty that Iger would depart by 2026 placed senior executives under intense scrutiny, particularly as investors focused on governance and long-term leadership stability.

“I’m incredibly proud of all that we’ve accomplished over the past three years to set Disney on the path to continued growth,” Iger told investors Monday. “I’m inspired and energized by the opportunities ahead for this wonderful company.”

On Monday, Iger also reflected on the company’s last leadership transition, stressing the importance of continued adaptation.

“In a world that changes as much as it does . . . trying to preserve the status quo is a mistake, and I’m certain that my successor will not do that,” Iger said. “They’ll be handed, I think, a good hand in terms of the strength of the company, a number of opportunities to grow and and also the exhortation that in a world that changes you also have to continue to change and evolve as well.”

As D’Amaro prepares to take the helm, he inherits a company navigating shifting consumer habits, fierce streaming competition, and massive capital investments in its parks and resorts. The board’s choice signals confidence that a leader shaped by Disney’s experiential and consumer-facing businesses can guide the company through its next chapter.

Stay tuned to AttractionInsight.com and follow our social media channels for more Disney news and beyond.