Quick Read
- Josh D’Amaro has been elected as the next CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
- He will succeed Robert A. Iger, with the transition effective March 18, 2026.
- D’Amaro currently serves as Chairman of Disney Experiences, overseeing global theme parks and resorts.
- Dana Walden has been appointed President and Chief Creative Officer of the company.
- Robert A. Iger will remain a Senior Advisor and Board member until December 31, 2026.
LOS ANGELES (Azat TV) – The Walt Disney Company’s Board of Directors announced today that Josh D’Amaro, currently Chairman of Disney Experiences, has been elected as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective March 18, 2026. D’Amaro will succeed longtime CEO Robert A. Iger, marking a pivotal leadership transition that underscores the critical role of Disney’s global theme parks and resorts in its strategic vision.
The unanimous decision, made by the Board on Monday, positions D’Amaro to take the helm following the company’s upcoming Annual Meeting. As head of Disney’s largest business segment, which generated $36 billion in annual revenue in fiscal year 2025 and employs 185,000 Cast Members and employees worldwide, D’Amaro has been recognized for his instrumental role in the largest global expansion in Disney Experiences history. His leadership has propelled the segment to new financial and creative heights, significantly boosting guest satisfaction.
James Gorman, Chairman of The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors, lauded D’Amaro, stating, “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.” Gorman highlighted D’Amaro’s strong vision, deep understanding of Disney’s creative spirit, and outstanding record of business achievement, including collaborations that merge Disney storytelling with cutting-edge technology in parks.
Robert A. Iger, who will transition from his CEO role, also expressed confidence in his successor, noting D’Amaro’s “instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand” and his ability to combine creativity with operational excellence. Iger will continue to serve as Senior Advisor and a member of the Disney Board until his retirement from the company on December 31, 2026.
Concurrent with D’Amaro’s appointment, Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, has been named President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, also effective March 18. This newly created, historic role will see Walden reporting directly to D’Amaro, tasked with ensuring creative expression across all audience touchpoints aligns with the brand and advances core business objectives. Iger praised Walden as an “excellent leader” who commands immense respect within the creative community.
D’Amaro, 54, joined Disney in 1998 and has held various leadership roles across finance, business strategy, marketing, creative development, and operations. Prior to becoming Chairman of Disney Experiences in 2020, he served as President of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Under his leadership at Disney Experiences, D’Amaro has overseen 12 theme parks and 57 resort hotels globally, including plans for a new park in Abu Dhabi, the first new Disney theme park in 15 years, as well as digital ventures like the collaboration with Epic Games for a Disney universe within Fortnite. His tenure has seen the creation of immersive attractions such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Avengers Campus, and World of Frozen, with upcoming projects including a Monsters, Inc.-themed land and new Avatar destination.
The selection of D’Amaro concludes an extensive, multi-year succession planning process initiated by the Board in January 2023. A special Succession Planning Committee, chaired by James Gorman, rigorously evaluated internal and external candidates, organizational frameworks, and transition structures. Both D’Amaro and Walden underwent a comprehensive preparation process, including extensive mentorship from Iger and direct engagement with all directors, a move intended to ensure a smooth transition following a previous leadership change in 2020 that led to Iger’s return in 2022.
Iger reflected on his nearly two decades of leadership, stating, “I am incredibly proud to step away at a moment when Disney’s future has never been brighter.” He credited D’Amaro’s leadership and the company’s strategic transformation since his return in 2022 for positioning Disney for long-term growth amidst industry disruption. The outgoing CEO emphasized strengthening film studios, achieving streaming profitability, developing ESPN as a premier digital sports destination, and turbocharging growth across Disney Experiences as key priorities met during his recent tenure.
The appointment of Josh D’Amaro from the highly successful Disney Experiences division signals a clear strategic direction for the company, prioritizing immersive storytelling and global expansion of its physical assets alongside its robust media and streaming portfolio. This leadership transition, carefully orchestrated after Iger’s second tenure, aims to leverage proven operational excellence and creative innovation to sustain Disney’s market position and drive shareholder value in an evolving entertainment landscape.