Disney is entering a major new chapter as long‑time chief executive Bob Iger prepares to hand the reins to Josh D’Amaro in March 2026, while Dana Walden steps into an expanded creative leadership role that will redefine the company’s direction across streaming, film, television, and theme parks.
From Bob Iger to Josh D’Amaro
Bob Iger, who returned as CEO in 2022 after the ouster of Bob Chapek, has spent the last several years restructuring Disney and preparing a successor while his contract ran through the end of 2026. In early 2026, Disney’s board moved up that timetable, deciding to name a new chief executive and accelerate the transition away from Iger’s day‑to‑day leadership.
The board has now unanimously elected Josh D’Amaro, currently Chairman of Disney Experiences, to become Chief Executive Officer effective at the company’s annual meeting on March 18, 2026. Iger will step into a Senior Advisor role to the board through December 31, 2026, giving Disney a defined hand‑off period where the outgoing and incoming chiefs work in parallel.
Who is Josh D’Amaro?
Josh D’Amaro is best known inside Disney for running its global “Experiences” segment, which includes theme parks, resorts, cruise lines, and consumer products. Under his leadership, the parks and experiences business has been central to Disney’s financial recovery, with major investments in new attractions, technology‑driven guest experiences, and integrated storytelling across physical and digital platforms.
As CEO, D’Amaro is expected to bring that guest‑focused, operations‑heavy mindset to the entire company, balancing the demands of streaming, theatrical releases, ESPN, and international growth. The board highlighted his deep company experience, close collaboration with Iger, and strong relationships across Disney’s creative and business units as key reasons for his selection.
Dana Walden’s Rise in Creative Power
Alongside D’Amaro’s promotion, Disney is elevating Dana Walden—currently Co‑Chair of Disney Entertainment—to the newly defined role of President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company. Walden already oversees Disney’s global entertainment media, news, and content businesses, including its streaming platforms, scripted and unscripted television, and a major share of film production.
As President and CCO, Walden will effectively become the top creative architect of Disney’s storytelling strategy, from franchise management to green‑lighting new series and films across Disney+, Hulu, and traditional networks. Iger and the board have emphasized that placing a seasoned creative executive in this role is meant to keep “creativity at the heart” of Disney’s identity even as it pursues financial discipline and technological innovation.
The New Inner Circle
D’Amaro will be supported by a senior leadership group that has already been working closely together during the succession process. Key figures expected to continue in influential roles include Alan Bergman, Co‑Chairman of Disney Entertainment, and Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN, both of whom remain central to strategy in film, television, and sports.
The board itself has also been refreshed to guide this transition, with James Gorman serving as chairman and leading the Succession Planning Committee that evaluated D’Amaro and Walden. That committee put both executives through an extended preparation program, including direct mentoring from Iger, outside coaching, and repeated sessions with the full board to test their strategic vision.
What This Means for Disney’s Future
Disney’s new leadership structure splits power between an operator CEO and a creative chief, signaling a strategy that tries to keep the company nimble while protecting its core identity as a storytelling powerhouse. D’Amaro’s background suggests a focus on integrated experiences—linking parks, consumer products, and digital content—while Walden’s role is designed to stabilize and grow the hit‑making engine across Disney’s brands and streaming services.
With Iger still on hand as an advisor through the end of 2026, Disney aims for a smoother succession than the turbulent Chapek era, giving investors, employees, and creative partners a clearer view of who is in charge and how decisions will be made. If D’Amaro and Walden can maintain creative momentum while steering through streaming economics, cord‑cutting, and global competition, this leadership reset could define Disney’s trajectory for the next decade.