Disney names Josh D’Amaro as new CEO

Josh D’Amaro is to become Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, effective on March 18th, succeeding longtime Disney CEO Robert A. Iger.

D’Amaro is a 28-year Disney veteran and the architect of the largest global expansion in Disney Experiences history, having been Chairman of the Disney Experiences segment since 2020.

“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, incoming CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

“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 honour 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.”

Robert A. Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company, added: “Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO.

“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.”

Elsewhere, Dana Walden – Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment – has been named President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, also effective March 18th.

As Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, Walden has led Disney’s entertainment media, news, and content businesses globally, including Disney’s streaming businesses. In this new role, Walden will report directly to D’Amaro and will ensure that ‘storytelling and creative expression across every audience touchpoint consistently reflect the brand, engage audiences at scale and advance core business objectives’.

“Dana Walden is an excellent leader who commands tremendous respect from the creative community,” continued Iger.

“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.”