Disney announced that Josh D’Amaro, the company’s longtime parks chief, will become The Walt Disney Company’s next CEO — a change that kicks in at the annual meeting on March 18, 2026. The move reshapes leadership at one of the world’s biggest entertainment companies and hands creative oversight to Dana Walden.
What happened
The Disney board, led by chairman James Gorman, said D’Amaro will succeed Bob Iger at the company’s annual meeting on March 18, 2026 and will be appointed a director immediately after the vote. Iger will shift to a senior advisor role and remain on the board through his planned retirement at the end of 2026.
Who is Josh D’Amaro?
D’Amaro has spent 28 years at Disney and has been chairman of Disney Experiences since 2020. In that role he ran the company’s largest segment — overseeing about 185,000 cast members and $36 billion in FY2025 revenue — and led major expansions and attractions including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Avengers Campus and World of Frozen.
Leadership changes and creative reins
Alongside D’Amaro’s promotion, Dana Walden — co-chair of Disney Entertainment — will become President and Chief Creative Officer, reporting to D’Amaro. The company highlighted Walden as the first female president in Disney’s history. Her new role is meant to centralize creative strategy across film, TV and theme-park storytelling.
Why it matters now
This transition closes a chapter that began when Bob Iger returned as CEO in 2022 after the board ousted his successor. The appointment signals the board’s preference for an executive with deep operational experience across Disney’s consumer-facing businesses as the company navigates streaming, parks growth, and new technology partnerships.
Board rationale and industry reaction
James Gorman told reporters the board valued D’Amaro’s mix of operational success and curiosity about gaming, AI and production, saying he “really understands the importance of storytelling and IP.” He added the board wanted someone who had run a related business and showed personal resilience.
Not everyone is convinced. Activist investor Nelson Peltz criticized the choice, telling The Wall Street Journal, “I didn’t think there was any choice, because Iger needs a reason to stay on.” Peltz predicted Iger might publicly indicate D’Amaro lacks studio experience and therefore needs Iger to remain involved.
Market, fans and what’s next
The announcement has been parsed by shareholders and analysts; Disney shares have had struggles over the past year and remain a focal point for investors watching succession and strategic direction. The board expects D’Amaro to learn the studio and media side while Walden provides creative leadership.
- Key date: March 18, 2026 — annual meeting and formal transition.
- Iger’s timeline: remains senior advisor and board member through 2026, stepping down from the executive committee after the meeting.
- What to watch: how D’Amaro balances parks revenue strength with streaming, film slate decisions and partnerships Iger flagged, including recently announced deals with OpenAI and the NFL.
For Disney fans and investors, the next year will test whether the company’s new leadership can marry operational discipline with creative risk-taking in a fast-changing media landscape.