Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger looks on before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 10, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Michael Reaves | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images
Disney is ready for its next CEO.
On Monday, company executives highlighted its recent successes during its quarterly earnings report. CEO Bob Iger argued that when his soon-to-be-named successor takes over, Disney will be ready to seize the momentum.
“I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished over the past three years to put Disney on a path for continued growth. I am inspired and energized by the opportunities ahead for this wonderful company,” Iger told investors Monday.
Iger reclaimed the CEO role in late 2022 after a failed succession plan involving former parks boss Bob Chapek. Disney chose Chapek to succeed Iger in 2020, only to fire him two and a half years later and reverse many of the changes he had implemented.
Now, Disney is counting on a smoother transfer of power for the second time, cushioned by a path of growth.
Disney’s board meets this week and is expected to vote on its next CEO, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity on internal matters. The company previously said it would announce Iger’s replacement in the first quarter of this year.
“I think what’s remarkable is that when I came back three years ago, I had an awful lot to fix,” Iger said on Monday’s call. “But anyone who runs a business also knows that it’s not just about fixing it. It’s about preparing the business for its future… but also taking steps to create opportunities for growth.”
On Monday, Disney beat Wall Street’s revenue and profit expectations for its fiscal first quarter.
The company’s experiences division, which includes theme parks, resorts and cruises, reported more than $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro is among the favorites to be named the next CEO.
Industry insiders and Disney sources expect D’Amaro to be named Iger’s successor, although the decision ultimately rests with Disney’s board and won’t be final until after directors vote.
“The Board of Directors has not yet chosen the next CEO of The Walt Disney Company and once that decision is made, we will announce it,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement, declining to comment on the timing of the next board meeting.
Iger said Monday he was “very, very optimistic” about the parks industry and its ability to grow. Disney is now planning to develop a theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has launched more cruise ships and is in the midst of a previously announced $60 billion investment in its theme parks over the next decade.
Meanwhile, Disney’s entertainment segment — the unit that houses its television networks, streaming releases and theatrical releases, and which arguably needed the biggest turnaround in recent years — saw revenue rise 7% during the period. Disney stopped reporting streaming subscriber growth this quarter, but offered guidance showing Disney is confident it will continue to grow and offset the decline in traditional television.
While theme parks, resorts and cruises have driven Disney’s profits, its television, streaming and movie businesses are often the center of attention. After disappointing years at the box office, Disney dominated in 2025, and on Monday its executives touted their future slate.
“Looking back just a few years, when our movie business was suffering from Covid and the streaming business was obviously not in an acceptable situation, it’s clear that the future of both of those industries, or let’s call it our entertainment business, is also bright and it’s going to grow,” Iger said during the company’s earnings call.
Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden is also among Iger’s lieutenants vying for the CEO seat, CNBC previously reported.
Former Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman led the process of selecting a successor. Given the emphasis on theme parks in recent years, speculation has recently swung in D’Amaro’s favor.
“In a world that’s changing so much…trying to preserve the status quo was a mistake,” Iger said Monday of Disney’s latest leadership transition.
“And I am certain that my successor will not do that,” he said. “I think they will benefit from a good hand in terms of the strength of the company, a lot of growth opportunities and also the hope that in a world that is changing, you also have to continue to change and evolve.”
—Julia Boorstin of CNBC contributed to this report.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Morgan Stanley.