Mr. D’Amaro, 54, has most recently served as chairman of Disney Experiences, a division that includes theme parks, cruise vacations and consumer products.
Feb. 3, 2026Updated 8:51 a.m. ET
Josh D’Amaro, a 28-year Disney veteran with vast theme park experience but little expertise in movies and television, will succeed Robert A. Iger as Disney’s chief executive, ending a nearly three-year search, the company said on Tuesday.
Disney’s board voted unanimously to give Mr. D’Amaro the job. He will assume power on March 18, when Disney is scheduled to hold its annual shareholder meeting. He will also join the company’s board.
Mr. D’Amaro, 54, has most recently served as chairman of Disney Experiences, a division with $36 billion in annual revenue that includes theme parks, cruise vacations and consumer products, including video games. Mr. D’Amaro’s unit supplied roughly 60 percent of Disney’s profit last year.
James P. Gorman, Disney’s chairman, said in a statement that Mr. 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.”
Disney also promoted Dana Walden to president and chief creative officer, effective March 18. Ms. Walden, 61, has been Disney’s top television executive (excluding ESPN) with joint oversight of streaming. Disney said her remit would include ensuring that “storytelling and creative expression across every audience touchpoint consistently reflect the brand.”
Ms. Walden will be the first companywide chief creative officer in Disney’s 103-year history.
Succession has been hanging over the company since 2022, when Mr. Iger — having bungled the process in 2020 — came out of retirement to retake Disney’s reins. This time around, an outsider, Mr. Gorman, a veteran Wall Street banker, managed the succession planning process. He was recruited to serve on the Disney board in 2024 as part of Mr. Iger’s response to attacks from activist investors, one of whom, Nelson Peltz, harshly criticized the company for slipshod succession planning.
Although the company considered outside candidates, the search came down to four internal leaders. They were Ms. Walden; Alan Bergman, Disney’s movie chief; Jimmy Pitaro, whose fief is ESPN; and Mr. D’Amaro. The question of whether any of them will ascend to the top job has captivated Hollywood, which long viewed Ms. Walden as the most viable candidate.
Disney has a history of bumpy transfers of power. Mr. Iger’s predecessor when he was first elevated to run the company, Michael D. Eisner, tried to cling to his job, and in the end turned over a struggling company. During his earlier, 15-year stint as Disney’s chief executive, Mr. Iger delayed his retirement four times and seemed reluctant to leave when he did.
The last time Mr. Iger stepped back, he quickly soured on his successor, Bob Chapek, who, like Mr. D’Amaro, ascended from the company’s theme park division. The epic power struggle that followed between the two destabilized the company and ended with Mr. Iger’s return to Disney.
This is breaking news. Check back for updates.
Curated by Maria Santos
