Disney has named Josh D’Amaro as its new chief executive officer to replace Bob Iger and bring to an end his tumultuous tenure at the top of the century-old entertainment company.
D’Amaro will be the company’s ninth CEO in its 102-year history and will start March 18.
The 28-year company veteran currently serves as chairman of Disney Experiences, where he has overseen a $60 billion investment to “turbocharge” tourism offerings, including theme parks, cruise ships and resorts. His division generates $36 billion annually and has 185,000 employees. He’s led the largest global expansion in Disney Experiences history.
“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 of D’Amato in a statement Tuesday. “His ability to combine creativity with operational excellence is exemplary and I am thrilled for Josh and the company.”
Before joining Disney, D’Amaro worked in the finance department of Boston-based, The Gillette Company, according to Variety.
In a 2025 interview with Disney Parks Blog, D’Amaro talked about his first trip to Disneyland when he was 10 years old, leaving him with vivid memories of the Sleeping Beauty Castle and meeting characters.
“Of all the amazing moments from that trip, the one that stands out the most is going on Peter Pan’s Flight – my father was so excited to ride it with me. ‘It really feels like you’re flying!’ he said. And of course, he was right.”
D’Amaro went on to say he believes that Disney’s future is bright. “With more expansion projects underway at our parks than at any other time in our history, there is so much to look forward to,” he said.
The incoming CEO’s Instagram account is sprinkled with photos with a wide range of celebrities, including Mr. Beast, Dude Perfect, Jason Kelce and Jon Favreau, as well as dozens of photos with park patrons and Disney staff.
D’Amaro’s selection for CEO comes after a highly publicized hiring process in which he went head-to-head with Disney co-chair of entertainment Dana Walden for the role.
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His appointment to lead Disney brings a close to Iger’s reign over the brand. Iger had a successful run as CEO from 2002 to 2020, during which the company acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox. He also oversaw the company’s launch of its own streaming service, Disney+.
Iger’s hand-picked replacement, Bob Chapek, took the reins of the company in 2020. He was ousted in 2022 after the company became mired in controversy and instability.
Disney saw its financial performance fall off under Chapek. The company’s stock price hit an all-time high in early 2021, but by the time Chapek was fired in November 2020, Disney shares had tumbled near four-year lows. The former CEO later confided to a friend that his time at Disney was “about three years of hell,” according to CNBC.
Iger returned to his CEO role in November 2022 to provide stability as the company launched a search for its next leader.
Disney also announced Tuesday that Walden will become the company’s president and chief creative officer on March 18.
She has played a key role in the company’s success, leading the company’s entertainment media, news and content divisions, which also includes Disney+.
Iger heaped praise on Walden’s accomplishments, saying she is “an excellent leader who commands tremendous respect from the creative community” and that “she is a wonderful choice” for the company’s president and chief creative officer.
Walden has a sterling entertainment career, in which shows launched under her leadership, such as Modern Family, This Is Us, Glee and Homeland, have won more than 400 Emmys and more than 1,200 awards, Disney noted.
