Disney Names Josh D’Amaro as Next CEO, Marking the End of Bob Iger’s Era

After more than two years of speculation, internal competition, and intense boardroom deliberations, The Walt Disney Company has finally named its next chief executive. Josh D’Amaro, the long-serving head of Disney’s theme parks and consumer products division, will step into the top role, taking over from Bob Iger and marking the end of one of the most closely watched leadership transitions in Hollywood.

The decision was unanimously approved by Disney’s board of directors and will officially take effect on March 18, during the company’s annual shareholder meeting. From that point, Bob Iger will shift into the role of senior adviser and remain on Disney’s board until his full retirement on December 31, 2026.

A New Chapter After a Long Succession Drama

Disney’s CEO search has been anything but simple. After Iger initially stepped down in 2020, the company experienced turbulence under his successor Bob Chapek, whose tenure ended in 2022 when Iger was brought back to stabilize the company. That episode made succession planning one of the board’s top priorities, with investors closely watching how Disney would handle the next transition.

In 2024, the board committed to naming a successor well ahead of Iger’s final exit. The pressure was immense. Disney is not just another entertainment company—it is a global empire spanning film, television, streaming, theme parks, consumer products, gaming, and technology. Choosing the wrong leader again was simply not an option.

Over time, it became clear that Disney would look inward rather than bringing in an outsider. The company’s scale and complexity made it almost impossible for an external candidate to understand the business quickly enough to take charge.

Why Josh D’Amaro Was Chosen

Josh D’Amaro, 54, has been with Disney since 1998 and represents a classic “Disney-grown” leader. He began his career at Disneyland and worked his way through a wide range of business, marketing, and operational roles. Over the years, he has served as CFO of Disney Consumer Products Global Licensing, president of Disneyland Resort, president of Walt Disney World Resort, and eventually chairman of Disney Experiences.

For the past six years, D’Amaro has overseen Disney’s parks, cruises, consumer products, and Imagineering division—currently the company’s biggest revenue and profit engine. He is also leading a massive $60 billion global investment plan to expand Disney’s theme parks, including a major new destination in Abu Dhabi.

His deep experience in how families interact with Disney’s brand, both emotionally and commercially, is seen as one of his biggest strengths. Board chairman James Gorman praised D’Amaro for combining strategic vision with innovation and for having a strong understanding of what makes Disney unique in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape.

Bob Iger echoed that sentiment, calling D’Amaro “an exceptional leader” with a rare ability to blend creativity with operational discipline. According to Iger, D’Amaro understands not just Disney’s business—but its soul.

Dana Walden’s Powerful New Role

While D’Amaro takes over as CEO, Dana Walden has also emerged as a central figure in Disney’s future leadership structure. Previously co-chair of Disney Entertainment, Walden has been promoted to the newly created role of President and Chief Creative Officer.

In this position, Walden will oversee Disney’s creative direction across its massive content portfolio and report directly to D’Amaro. Her responsibilities already include ABC Entertainment, ABC News, Disney Television Studios, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content, and several other major brands.

Walden joined Disney in 2019 after the acquisition of 21st Century Fox and has since become one of the most influential executives in the streaming era. She played a key role in building Disney+ and Hulu into major platforms and is widely respected across the television and film industry.

Many industry insiders had speculated that Walden could become Disney’s first female CEO. Instead, the board opted for a leadership structure that keeps her at the creative core of the company, while D’Amaro leads overall strategy and operations.

The End of Bob Iger’s Era

Bob Iger’s legacy at Disney is enormous. He first became CEO in 2005 and transformed the company through landmark acquisitions, including Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox. He also oversaw the launch of Disney+, which reshaped the company for the streaming age.

Iger originally stepped down in 2020, returned in 2022 during a period of internal crisis, and has now guided Disney through yet another major transition. His final departure in 2026 will mark the end of more than two decades of influence at the highest level of the company.

Reflecting on the future, Iger emphasized that the next CEO must not try to preserve the status quo. In a rapidly changing industry, he said, Disney must continue to evolve, adapt, and take risks in order to remain relevant and competitive.

A Strategic Balance Between Parks and Content

One of the most interesting aspects of this transition is the balance of power between Disney’s two biggest pillars: theme parks and entertainment content.

In recent years, Disney’s parks and experiences division—run by D’Amaro—has been the company’s most reliable profit generator, especially as the film and television industry has struggled. At the same time, Disney’s movies, TV shows, and streaming content remain essential for driving brand relevance, merchandise sales, and long-term fan loyalty.

Iger himself described this as a “healthy competition” inside the company, with both divisions capable of becoming the top profit driver in the years ahead.

By placing D’Amaro at the top and Walden in charge of creative strategy, Disney appears to be betting on a leadership model that combines business strength with storytelling power.

What This Means for Disney’s Future

Josh D’Amaro’s appointment signals a shift toward operational excellence, global expansion, and experiential growth—without losing sight of Disney’s creative DNA. With nearly three decades inside the company, he understands both the corporate machinery and the emotional connection audiences have with Disney.

At the same time, Dana Walden’s new role ensures that creativity remains at the heart of the company’s identity, especially in an era dominated by streaming, franchises, and global content competition.

Together, their leadership marks a carefully planned handover—one designed to avoid the mistakes of the past and position Disney for its next phase of growth.

After years of uncertainty, Disney finally has its future leadership in place. And for a company built on magic, imagination, and storytelling, the real challenge now begins: writing the next chapter.