What We Know About Disney's Next CEO

Disney has named the next CEO for The Walt Disney World Company. Who is Josh D'Amaro?

Josh D'Amaro Named Next CEO

Josh D'Amaro has been named The Walt Disney Company's next CEO. This new role will take effect on March 18th, 2026.

Bob Iger, current CEO of The Walt Disney Company, stated "Josh D'Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO.

Dana Walden was also a top contender for the position. She was just named President and Chief Creative Officer for The Walt Disney Company also effective March 18, 2026.

Walden staying with the company is great news. It was previously reported that the committee wanted to make this as smooth of a transition as possible. It was previously shared that other executives who were not chosen as the CEO could see contract negotiations that included increase in responsibility and compensation to help retain them. 

Who is Josh D'Amaro

D'Amaro is 54 years old and earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Georgetown University. He has served as the Chairman of the Disney Experiences since 2020, before that he was President of Walt Disney World Resort. D'Amaro joined The Walt Disney Company back at the Disneyland Resort in 1998. He has been with the company for 28 years.

In his current role, he oversees 12 theme parks, 57 resorts around the world, Walt Disney Imagineering and manages ventures. He also is responsible for Disney Signature Experiences that include Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Disney Institute, Disney Vacation Club, Disney Consumer Products and Storyliving by Disney.

D'Amaro has been part of expanding Disney's franchises that include Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Marvel-themed Avengers Campus, and the World of Frozen. He has also been a part of upcoming projects like Cars and Disney Villains at Magic Kingdom, and Avatar at Disneyland.

What's Next?

Walden and D'Amaro will take on their new roles effective at the Annual Meeting on March 18th. D'Amaro will then be appointed as a director (on The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors) following the meeting.

Bob Iger will stay as a Senior Advisor and a member of the Disney Board until his retirement, which is set for December 31, 2026.

Josh D'Amaro will have a team of senior executives that have worked together for years through difficult periods of change while still delivering good business outcomes.

The next Disney Parks chairman may not be named for some time as this is D'Amaro's responsibility to name the next person. It is anticipated that the announcement will not come until after D'Amaro takes his position as Disney's CEO on March 18th.

What do you think of Disney appointing D'Amaro as Disney's next CEO? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to share this post with your friends!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Heather loves all things Disney! She loves visiting her "home" as a Disney Vacation Club Member or participating in a runDisney event!

Source: Thewaltdisneycompany.com