Larissa Manoela and Josh D’Amaro, President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, greet the audience after the Disney Experiences panel during day two of D23 Brazil: A Disney Experience at Transamerica Expo Center on November 9, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Ricardo Moreira | Getty Images
Disney turns the page on a new chapter with the arrival of Josh D’Amaro as CEO of the media and theme park powerhouse.
D’Amaro most recently served as president of Disney Experiences, which includes the company’s theme parks, cruise lines, resorts and consumer products. He will officially succeed Bob Iger as CEO at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday.
The longtime Disney executive takes over after a period of uncertainty for the century-old company — including a closely watched succession race and a recent reorganization and turnaround — that earned him a mixed reception from Wall Street.
Disney stock is down more than 10% year to date as of Tuesday’s close.
D’Amaro’s most immediate task will be to maintain momentum in Disney’s key growth areas. The company’s most recent quarterly results were boosted by its theme parks and streaming, both areas that remain the focus of attention among investors, industry peers and consumers.
The company recently embarked on a major investment in its theme parks, including an expansion with a theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, and saw its streaming business achieve consecutive quarters of profitability.
Disney also returned to the top of the box office with hits like “Lilo & Stitch,” “Zootopia” and “Avatar” in 2025.
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In this image provided by Disneyland Resort, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, and Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, speak during the Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary celebration on July 17, 2025 in Anaheim, California.
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This is the second time Iger has handed over the reins to a successor in about six years. He will remain a senior advisor to Disney and a member of the board of directors until his retirement from the company on December 31.
The famous CEO led Disney for around 20 years, during two tenures at the top. During his first 15 years, Iger was responsible for some of his biggest acquisitions, like the entertainment assets of Marvel and Fox, as well as the launch of Disney+.
He resigned in 2020, but his absence from the company was capped at two years following a transfer to Bob Chapek that was fraught with drama.
In Disney’s February announcement of D’Amaro, Iger called D’Amaro “an exceptional leader and the ideal person to become our next CEO.”
D’Amaro, 55, has worked at Disney since 1998 and has held various positions within the company. Under his leadership, Disney’s theme parks division became a driving force and revenue driver.
