People

The Board of Directors of The Walt Disney Company has unanimously elected Josh D’Amaro as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 18, 2026, following the company’s Annual Meeting. D’Amaro will succeed Robert A. Iger, who will remain Senior Advisor and a Board member through December 31, 2026.

Currently Chairman of Disney Experiences, D’Amaro leads Disney’s largest business segment, generating $36 billion in annual revenue and employing 185,000 Cast Members worldwide. A 28-year Disney veteran, he has overseen the company’s most ambitious global expansion of parks and experiences, driving strong financial performance, creative innovation, and record guest satisfaction.

Concurrently, Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, has been named President and Chief Creative Officer, a newly created role reporting directly to D’Amaro. Walden will oversee storytelling and creative strategy across all Disney platforms, including film, television, streaming, and news.

Outgoing CEO Bob Iger praised both appointments, highlighting D’Amaro’s ability to combine creativity with operational excellence and Walden’s leadership within the global creative community. Iger credited the succession process—launched in 2023 and supported by extensive mentorship and board oversight—with preparing Disney for long-term growth.

“I am deeply honored to lead this extraordinary company,” said D’Amaro. “Disney’s future is powered by its people and its storytelling, and I’m excited to build on its remarkable legacy while continuing to innovate and grow.”

The transition marks the close of the Iger era, defined by major creative, strategic, and financial transformations, and the beginning of Disney’s next chapter under D’Amaro’s leadership.