Since returning to The Walt Disney Company in 2022, CEO Bob Iger’s second round of leadership has been a subject of great interest. Putting the unsuccessful tenure of intended successor Bob Chapek behind them, the brand has been righting the ship – with a constant eye for the next leader of the club. That very choice, as well as Disney’s new selection for President/Chief Creative Officer, could be spelling out a new era set on capturing a specific type of magic that we haven’t seen in a while.
Josh D’Amaro Is Officially The Next CEO Of The Walt Disney Company
Yesterday’s Q1 2026 earnings call wasn’t the only action that defined the future for the House of Mouse, as the company’s board also voted in Josh D’Amaro as its new CEO. The Walt Disney Company dropped the news this morning, confirming the buzz that the now former chairman of Disney Experiences landed this huge promotion. Praising the decision, current CEO Bob Iger provided the following statement:
Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO. 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. His ability to combine creativity with operational excellence is exemplary and I am thrilled for Josh and the company.
As “the architect of the largest global expansion in Disney Experiences history” D’Amaro has apparently earned his stripes in the eyes of the Walt Disney Company board. With such feats as overseeing the addition of both Avatar attractions to Animal Kingdom on his resume, Josh D’Amaro and his leadership skills seem to signal a specific intention in the immediate future of Uncle Walt’s dream factory.
Brand Synergy Could Be More Important Than Ever In The Disney Future
The Walt Disney Company didn’t just name a new CEO yesterday, as co-chairman of Disney Entertainment Dana Walden is now the new President and Chief Creative Officer. Citing her experience with “award-winning entertainment media, news, and content businesses,” Walden’s new post was highlighted as follows:
In this new role – a historic first for the enterprise – Walden will report directly to D’Amaro and will ensure that storytelling and creative expression across every audience touchpoint consistently reflect the brand, engage audiences at scale, and advance core business objectives, while driving enterprise-wide initiatives and translating vision into action.
So what does this say for the future of The Walt Disney Company? Well, from my perspective as an outsider/Disney Kid, I’d say that Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden’s track records of success are being structured to ensure that there’s a better synergy between park and entertainment operations.
It’s no secret that the company has seen a dip in profits, with even its staunchest fans criticizing everything from park entrance fees to franchise operations. With their respective fields in play, and Ms. Walden’s direct reporting to Mr. D’Amaro, individual talents become united by the common goal of recapturing the Disney magic of yesteryear.
Say what you will about the Michael Eisner era of leadership, the man was a known quantity with the public. He also ushered in the Disney Renaissance, and that’s more than likely what Josh D’Amaro will be setting off to reimagine for a new generation. With his experience as a guest-centric big wig in hand, that sort of thinking could be what wins the day.
We’ll just have to wait and see what sort of fairy dust starts to swirl in the months to come. For now, we here at That Hashtag Show congratulate Mr. D’Amaro and Dana Walden on their new positions, and wish them the the best of luck.
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