Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro will officially succeed Bob Iger to become The Walt Disney Company's next Chief Executive Officer on March 18, 2026.
The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors and its chairman, James Gorman, shared the news, saying D'Amaro will step into this new role at the upcoming Annual Meeting on March 18. D'Amaro will also be appointed as a director of the board immediately following the meeting.
“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,” said Robert A. Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “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. His ability to combine creativity with operational excellence is exemplary and I am thrilled for Josh and the company.”
D'Amaro, who has been with the company for 28 years, is the "architect of the largest expansion in Disney Experiences' history, and has led the segment to new heights financially, creatively, and in guest satisfaction." As Disney Experiences Chairman, he oversaw 185,000 cast members and the largest business segment at The Walt Disney Company with annual revenue of $36 billion in FY2025.
D'Amaro has served as Chairman of the Disney Experiences segment since 2020, and he previously held the roles of President of Disneyland Resort and President of Walt Disney World Resort. He was also a key figure in the development of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Avengers Campus, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, and World of Frozen.
He was also spearheading such future projects as the Monsters Inc.-themed land at Hollywood Studios, the new Avatar destination at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom's Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park area and the upcoming Villains-themed land.
“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,” said Josh D’Amaro. “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.”
Alongside D'Amaro's appointment, the board announced that Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, will become The Walt Disney Company's President and Chief Creative Officer. As Co-Chairman, Walden "led Disney’s world-renowned, award-winning entertainment media, news, and content businesses globally, including Disney’s streaming businesses."
This appointment is also a historic one, as Walden will be the first female president of The Walt Disney Company. She will report to D'Amaro and "ensure that storytelling and creative expression across every audience touchpoint consistently reflect the brand, engage audiences at scale, and advance core business objectives, while driving enterprise-wide initiatives and translating vision into action."
“Dana Walden is an excellent leader who commands tremendous respect from the creative community,” Iger said. “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.”
As for Iger, he has mentored these candidates and will continue on as a Senior Advisor and a member of the Disney Board until his retirement from The Walt Disney Company on December 31, 2026.
Iger served as The Walt Disney Company's CEO from 2005 – 2020, but he was reinstated in 2022 after the board dismissed then-CEO Bob Chapek.
“I am incredibly proud to step away at a moment when Disney’s future has never been brighter,” continued Iger. “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.”
For more on what D'Amaro will be in charge of, check out what's on the way in the world of Star Wars, Marvel, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.
