Josh D’Amaro To Replace Bob Iger As CEO Of The Walt Disney Company

In one of the most consequential leadership changes in its 103-year history, The Walt Disney Company has officially named longtime parks and experiences chief Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO, replacing Bob Iger effective at the company’s annual meeting on March 18, 2026.

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

Iger, who led Disney through the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm and oversaw the launch and growth of Disney+, publicly endorsed his successor in today’s release:

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.

Disney’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve D’Amaro’s appointment. Chairman James Gorman praised D’Amaro’s leadership and strategic instincts, saying:

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. 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. 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.

Alongside the CEO announcement, Disney also revealed that Dana Walden, currently co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, has been elevated to a newly created role as president and chief creative officer. In the position, Walden will report directly to D’Amaro and oversee creative strategy across the company’s studios, television operations, streaming platforms, and franchise businesses.

According to Iger:

Dana Walden is an excellent leader who commands tremendous respect from the creative community. 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.

According to reports, Disney has set D’Amaro’s base salary at $2.5 million as CEO, with eligibility for an annual, performance-based bonus tied to financial and operational goals, along with long-term equity awards linked to stock performance. Walden will receive a base salary of $1 million, also supplemented by performance incentives and equity compensation as part of her long-term package.

The dual promotions bring to a close Disney’s long and often fraught CEO succession process. It comes in the wake of Bob Chapek’s short and turbulent tenure as CEO. Chapek, who succeeded Iger in 2020, was considered a disciplined executive but struggled to balance cost-cutting with creative trust, particularly with Disney’s film and television leadership. His emphasis on streaming, highly publicized attempts to censor the company’s production outfits, and unwillingness to push back against Florida’s hateful “Don’t Say Gay” bill put him at odds with many inside and outside of the organization, and his tenure ended abruptly in 2022 when Iger was brought back to stabilize the company.

The contrast between Chapek’s corporate-first approach and Disney’s renewed emphasis on creative leadership may explain why D’Amaro’s operational background is being paired with Walden’s expanded creative mandate.

D’Amaro, 54, has spent nearly 30 years at Disney, rising through the ranks of the parks and experiences division. He currently serves as chairman of Disney Experiences, overseeing the company’s global theme parks and resorts, cruise line, consumer products, and related businesses. Under his leadership, the Experiences segment has remained one of Disney’s most profitable divisions, driven by strong attendance, continued expansion, and major investments in attractions tied to Disney’s film and animation properties.

Walden’s new role formalizes her position as Disney’s top creative executive at a time when content strategy remains central to the company’s future. Parks and experiences may be the cash cow at Disney, but the company’s long-term health still depends on the strength of its storytelling pipeline, the cultural relevance of its characters, and the creative choices that feed every other part of the business, from streaming and theatrical releases to merchandise and theme park attractions.

Iger will remain with the company as a senior advisor and board member through Dec. 31, 2026, supporting the transition as D’Amaro assumes full operational control. Reflecting on his time at the head of the company, he said:

I am incredibly proud to step away at a moment when Disney’s future has never been brighter. I’m confident Disney will continue to innovate and put the spirit of Walt at the heart of everything it does – from its new park in Abu Dhabi to the groundbreaking partnerships just announced with OpenAI and the NFL, to the countless upcoming creative projects that will enthrall audiences around the world. Disney has shaped who I am as a leader, and I will always be grateful to this extraordinary company and for the opportunity to lead it over all these years.