New CEO named after Disney's turbulent leadership transition in 2022
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro has been named as the next CEO of The Walt Disney Company, succeeding Bob Iger after a turbulent succession history at the entertainment giant.
Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, has also been named President and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Company, according to an announcement on Tuesday.
Both appointments will take effect at Disney's upcoming Annual Meeting on March 18, 2026, where the Board also plans to appoint D'Amaro as a director immediately following that meeting.
D'Amaro, a 28-year Disney veteran, currently oversees Disney Experiences, the company's largest segment, which generated $36 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025 and employs 185,000 people worldwide.
"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," D'Amaro said in a statement.
"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."
Messy CEO succession at Disney
D'Amaro's appointment comes after a tumultuous CEO succession at The Walt Disney Company after long-time CEO Bob Iger stepped down in 2020 only to come back two years later.
Iger first served as Disney CEO from 2005 to 2020, until the reins were handed over to Bob Chapek.
But in 2022, Disney reinstated Iger to replace Chapek, who,at the time, was facing a variety of issues surrounding his leadership.
"The board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period," said Susan Arnold, former board chairman, in 2022.
On D'Amaro's appointment, Iger said that he is the "right person" for the job.
"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," Iger said in a statement.
"His ability to combine creativity with operational excellence is exemplary and I am thrilled for Josh and the company."
Iger will continue to serve as Senior Advisor and a member of the Disney Board until his retirement from the company on December 31, 2026.
Intense succession planning
D'Amaro's appointment follows a "thorough and extensive" succession planning process at Disney.
The company's Board of Directors formed in January 2023 a special Succession Planning Committee for the transition of leadership.
According to Disney, Iger provided extensive mentorship to the internal candidates throughout the multi-year succession planning process.
The board and the committee met regularly to "evaluate internal and external candidates, transition structures, organisational frameworks, and planning for potential impacts of succession decisions across the company."
Disney's leadership transition follows a recent trend where CEO departures are mostly due to planned successions.
Data from the Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) revealed that 32% of 234 global CEO departures in 2025 were through planned successions, outpacing retirements which accounted for 26% of CEO exits.
"These patterns suggest boards are investing more time and discipline in succession planning, even amid volatile market conditions," the RRA report previously said.
"Rather than relying primarily on retirement or reacting to deteriorating performance, directors are increasingly using CEO succession as a strategic tool to manage continuity, renewal, and long-term value creation."
