After years of speculation, boardroom maneuvering, and one ill-fated ‘Bob vs. Bob’ chapter, The Walt Disney Company has confirmed that Josh D’Amaro will succeed Bob Iger as Chief Executive Officer.
The Disney Board of Directors voted unanimously on Monday to appoint D’Amaro, currently the Chairman of Disney Experiences. He officially takes the reins on 18 March 2026.
But D’Amaro will not rule alone. In a move that signals a careful balancing of operational might and creative soul, Dana Walden has been promoted to President and Chief Creative Officer.
The end of the Iger era (for real this time)
Bob Iger, the executive who defined modern Disney, has accelerated his departure.
Two-time Disney CEO, Bob Iger will depart in March
Originally set to stay until the end of 2026, Iger will now step down from the CEO role in March. However, he isn’t leaving the lot entirely. Iger will transition to a ‘Senior Advisor’ role through 31 December 2026 to ensure a seamless handover.
Iger praised the choice in a statement that seemed designed to quell any lingering investor anxiety about another leadership fumble.
“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,” Iger said. “He has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand and a deep understanding of what resonates with our audiences.”
Why Josh D’Amaro?
For industry watchers, the elevation of D’Amaro reads as a victory for the ‘boots on the ground’ strategy.
As head of Disney Experiences, D’Amaro oversaw the company’s massive theme park, cruise, and consumer products division – a segment that generated $36 billion USD ($55 billion AUD) in revenue in 2025. He navigated the division through the post-pandemic recovery and has been the face of the company to its 185,000 cast members (Disney staff).
Crucially, D’Amaro possesses the operational discipline that the board, led by Australian-born Chair James Gorman clearly prioritized.
Gorman, formerly CEO of Morgan Stanley and a University of Melbourne alumnus, joined the board with a reputation for ruthless efficiency in succession planning. He stated that D’Amaro demonstrated “a keen eye for strategic growth opportunities.”
Josh D’Amaro oversaw the company’s massive theme park, cruise, and consumer products division
Unlike the previous transition to Bob Chapek, which suffered from a perceived disconnect between the C-suite and the creative community, D’Amaro has spent years cultivating a public persona that is both approachable and brand-loyal.
The creative counterweight
Disney is keenly aware that a ‘parks guy’ in the top seat might spook the Hollywood talent pool.
The promotion of Dana Walden to President and Chief Creative Officer serves as the answer to that concern. Walden, a TV titan who has steered Disney Entertainment through the streaming wars, will report directly to D’Amaro.
This dual-structure ensures that while D’Amaro manages the empire’s operations and strategy, Walden retains a firm grip on the content pipeline that feeds the beast.
Alan Bergman (Disney Entertainment co-chair) and Jimmy Pitaro (ESPN Chairman) will remain in their roles, working alongside D’Amaro and Walden.
What this means for the Australian market
While the boardroom drama unfolds in Burbank, the ripple effects will be felt in Australia. James Gorman’s steady hand on the tiller is a subtle nod to the global nature of the role, but the local implications are tangible.
Disney+ remains a dominant force in the local streaming landscape, with estimated subscribers hovering around the 3.8 million mark in 2025.
With the Australian government’s local content quotas looming, requiring major platforms to invest in Australian stories, Walden’s elevation is significant.
Dana Walden is a creative titan of the TV world
As the architect of Disney’s global content strategy, her decisions will directly influence the greenlighting of future Australian originals to sit alongside The Artful Dodger and Last Days of the Space Age.
For local advertisers and media buyers, the stability at the top is welcome news. Disney’s advertising tier on Disney+ has been gaining traction, and a settled leadership team suggests a continued aggressive push into the ad-supported streaming space.
The ‘boomerang CEO’ narrative is officially closing. Bob Iger fixed the ship, and now he is handing the keys to a successor who has actually spent time in the engine room.
Main Image: Incoming Disney CEO, Josh D‘Amaro