Meet Josh D’Amaro: All the things to Know About Disney’s New CEO
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The Walt Disney Company has finally answered one of Hollywood’s most pressing questions: Who will succeed Bob Iger as CEO of the world’s most iconic entertainment empire?
The answer is Josh D’Amaro, the 54-year-old executive who currently chairs Disney’s enormously successful parks division. His appointment, unanimously approved by all 10 board members—including Iger himself—at a meeting Monday afternoon, according to Variety, brings to a close years of speculation about the company’s future leadership.
D’Amaro’s appointment as CEO will be effective as of Disney’s annual meeting on March 18. At that point, Iger will transition to serving as senior adviser and a member of the Disney board until his retirement from the company on Dec. 31, 2026.
A Succession Plan Years in the Making
Disney announced the succession plan Tuesday morning, ending what had become one of the most closely watched corporate transitions in American business. The decision carries particular weight given the company’s recent history with leadership changes—a history that includes some turbulent chapters.
D’Amaro would be only the second leader from Disney’s parks division to rise to the CEO role, following Bob Chapek. Chapek’s short-lived tenure disrupted Iger’s long leadership arc and ultimately proved turbulent. After handing over the reins in 2020, Iger became increasingly dissatisfied with Chapek’s leadership, setting off internal tensions that culminated in Iger’s return as CEO in 2022. The fallout from that episode has made this latest succession effort especially high-stakes for Disney.
This time, the board appears confident they’ve found the right leader for the next era.
“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,” Iger said in a statement, per CNN. “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.”
The succession announcement also brought news about another top executive. Dana Walden, Disney’s TV and streaming boss who was thought to be the other leading contender for the CEO role, will become the company’s president and chief creative officer. This new role positions Walden as a key figure in Disney’s creative direction moving forward, overseeing the content that flows across the company’s television networks and streaming platforms.
From Disneyland Cast Member to CEO: D’Amaro’s Journey
Josh D’Amaro’s path to the top of Disney reads like the kind of story the company might turn into an inspirational film. His connection to Disney runs deep—not just professionally, but personally.
D’Amaro has been with Disney since 1998, starting out at Disneyland. That means he has spent more than a quarter-century learning the intricacies of a company that operates theme parks, cruise ships, movie studios, television networks, and streaming services across the globe.
Before joining Disney, D’Amaro worked in Gillette’s finance department, giving him a foundation in corporate finance that would serve him well as he climbed Disney’s ranks. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing from Georgetown University.
Throughout his Disney career, D’Amaro worked across a range of business, marketing and operations posts within Disney, from CFO of Disney Consumer Products Global Licensing to president of Disneyland Resort and president of Walt Disney World Resort.
He was promoted to his current post as head of Disney parks and cruises, consumer products and Walt Disney Imagineering in May 2020—notably, the same year the COVID-19 pandemic forced theme parks worldwide to close their gates.
D’Amaro’s tenure leading the parks division has also been marked by significant expansion and new attractions. Under D’Amaro’s leadership, the parks added new attractions and themed lands. The division also expanded its cruise line with new ships—Disney Wish (2022), Disney Treasure (2024) and Disney Destiny (2025). The cruise line expansion alone represents billions of dollars in investment and demonstrates D’Amaro’s ability to execute large-scale, complex projects—exactly the kind of experience needed to lead a company that operates on Disney’s scale.
A Lifelong Disney Fan
Perhaps what sets D’Amaro apart from typical corporate executives is his genuine, lifelong connection to the Disney brand. A Massachusetts native, D’Amaro didn’t just work for Disney—he grew up loving it.
He told the Orlando Business Journal in 2020 that his must-do Disney World ride is “Peter Pan’s Flight,” which he said he and his siblings rode as kids—an experience he said he tries to recreate “whenever I’m here.”
And in a coincidence that seems almost too perfect for a company built on storytelling, D’Amaro shares a birthday with the man he’s replacing. He has the same birthday as Iger, interestingly enough, with Josh’s on February 10, 1971 and Bob’s on February 10, 1951. For those who follow such things: both are Aquarius.
What Comes Next
As D’Amaro prepares to take the reins next month, he inherits a company navigating significant challenges and opportunities. Disney’s streaming services continue to compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace. The company’s film studios face evolving audience tastes and theatrical distribution questions. And the parks division that D’Amaro built into a powerhouse will need continued investment and innovation.
Iger, 74, will remain involved through the transition period, serving as senior adviser and board member until his retirement at the end of 2026. This extended transition period suggests Disney is committed to ensuring continuity and giving D’Amaro time to fully assume leadership while still having access to Iger’s institutional knowledge.