In the world of Disney’s business operations, Josh D’Amaro has been a key figure, though not within their movie studios or streaming services. Instead, he’s been the driving force behind the company’s renowned theme parks, a sector that has consistently generated substantial profits. Now, D’Amaro is prepared to move into the most prominent role in the company.
The Walt Disney Company recently disclosed that D’Amaro will officially assume the role of CEO on March 18, taking over from Bob Iger. This succession is the result of a meticulously planned process. D’Amaro is stepping into this position at a time when the landscape of streaming, film, and sports media is in a state of flux. Major studios are grappling with the challenge of forecasting how audiences will consume media in the next few years. In this climate of uncertainty, D’Amaro’s achievements with Disney’s theme parks are of great importance to the company.
“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,”
said Bob Iger in a company release. Iger emphasized D’Amaro’s keen understanding of the Disney brand and his detailed approach to delivering ambitious projects.
Adding his voice to the choir of support, Michael Eisner, who led Disney as CEO from 1984 to 2005, offered his advice on the social media platform X: continuing Iger’s strategy of prioritizing creativity, safeguarding the brand, and ensuring that every visitor feels like a VIP, as per Walt Disney’s original vision.
Disney’s plans for expansion are in full swing, including a substantial $60 billion investment over the next decade. This initiative involves growth in their cruise line, domestic park expansions, and a new resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. With this, Disney’s board is confident that placing the company’s most successful sector under D’Amaro’s leadership is a move in the right direction.
The transition of leadership within Disney has been closely monitored, especially after Bob Chapek, who also came from leading the parks, had a brief tenure as CEO before Iger’s return. Chapek’s premature departure sharpened the board’s focus on ensuring a seamless transition from Iger’s leadership to avoid disruptions.
As a result, Disney’s stock has continued to face challenges in the market, with a recent value of around $103, reflecting a 9% drop over the past year. This indicates that the path to recovery for the company is still ongoing.
D’Amaro’s Disney journey began back in 1998 at the Disneyland Resort. Over more than 20 years, he held various roles in finance, marketing, strategy, and operations. His leadership extended to overseeing both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort before becoming Chairman of Disney Experiences in 2020. His responsibilities included overseeing global theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, and Walt Disney Imagineering.
Remarkably, under D’Amaro, the company’s parks division was resilient through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to temporary park closures and restrictions. As travel picked up pace, the division confronted rising costs, backlash over increasing prices, and heightened competition in Orlando, Florida, from Universal’s Epic Universe.
Even amid these obstacles, Disney’s parks business recovered well in 2021 and 2022, with reopening resorts and growing travel demand. By the end of December, Disney’s parks posted record high revenue. In 2025, the parks and experiences segment notably generated $36 billion, affirming its central role in the company’s profit-making efforts.
Despite facing international visitation headwinds at domestic parks, Disney reaffirmed its expectations for strong operating income growth, citing encouraging signs like hotel bookings later in the year.
Market analysts have generally regarded these challenges as manageable. For example, Kutgan Maral of Evercore ISI highlighted in a client note that Disney has effectively navigated these pressures so far.
In this new leadership framework, D’Amaro will work alongside Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment and an experienced television executive, who became president and chief creative officer. Their collaboration marks a step toward the balance Disney seeks, combining a leader with strong financial track records alongside proven creative capabilities.
According to Doug Cruetz, a media analyst at TD Cowen, while D’Amaro’s lacks creative industry experience, Walden’s role addresses this gap by aligning his operational strengths with creative expertise.
Cruetz also mentioned that the success of these executives hinges on their ability to develop a strong partnership. As Disney continues navigating this transitional phase, the impact of these leadership changes beyond the parks will gradually unfold.
This article was reported by Allie Canal, business reporter for NBC News.