Josh D’Amaro, who is currently the chairman of Disney Experiences, will take over as CEO of The Walt Disney Company on March 18, 2026. He will replace Bob Iger. This announcement ends a long-running race for the top job at the entertainment giant. D’Amaro was the clear front-runner because of his extensive experience running theme parks and resorts.
Bob Iger called D’Amaro a “outstanding leader” who knows the Disney brand well and can combine creativity with execution. D’Amaro’s promotion is the second big change in CEOs in the last few years. The first was Bob Chapek, who took over from Iger but left in the middle of a scandal that led to Iger’s return. Investors and people who follow the industry closely had been following the process closely, and D’Amaro was often mentioned as a front-runner.
D’Amaro has a lot of experience from running Disney’s parks division, which makes him a good choice to lead big projects in the face of changing challenges in streaming, movies, and theme parks. People see his hiring as a bet on operational excellence to move the company forward. This change fits with Iger’s plan to leave at the end of his long-term contract in 2026.
