Dana Walden Doesn’t Appreciate “Being Pit Against My Colleagues” In Disney CEO Race

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The competition to find a new leader for Disney after Bob Iger steps down is heating up, and talk of Dana Walden as the next CEO is now widespread. Walden has publicly acknowledged the challenging situation surrounding the leadership transition, highlighting concerns about Disney’s future and suggesting potential underlying issues within the company.

In an interview with Bloomberg’s The Circuit with Emily Chang, Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Walden discussed the search for a new CEO and the recent issues surrounding Jimmy Kimmel. Though she was careful with her words, her comments suggest Disney is facing challenges in controlling its public image, managing internal disagreements, and regaining public confidence.

Dana Walden Pushes Back on Being “Pit Against Colleagues”

When questioned about potentially succeeding Iger, Walden expressed her dissatisfaction with how the selection process has been handled.

I don’t like being put in a position where I’m competing against my coworkers,” Walden explained. “We have a strong, collaborative relationship and work closely together as a team.”

The comment seems friendly enough at first glance. However, it also quietly reveals that Disney’s plans for choosing its next leader have become very public—forcing people to compare executives against each other instead of appearing calm and assured.

Walden expressed confidence in Disney’s leadership and future, calling its team exceptionally strong. However, the fact that she felt the need to highlight this unity suggests there may be some internal disagreements as Bob Iger prepares to step down after a long period leading the company.

A Two-Horse Race With Familiar Faces

News reports are still presenting the choice for Disney’s next CEO as a competition between two main candidates. Michael Walden is generally seen as the biggest competitor to Josh D’Amaro, who currently runs Disney’s parks and resorts business.

Leaders like Alan Bergman, who co-chairs Disney Entertainment with Walden, and ESPN’s Jimmy Pitaro aren’t expected to be contenders for the top job. Despite some talk about bringing in someone from outside the company, Disney seems likely to promote from within its current leadership team.

As a movie fan, I’ve noticed a lot of chatter among critics about Disney’s recent struggles. It seems like their box office numbers haven’t been as strong lately, and their streaming service hasn’t quite hit its stride. Plus, they’ve been caught in the middle of a lot of cultural debates. What’s interesting is that many of these problems started happening during the time the current leadership team – a team Walden herself played a part in building – was in place.

Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Puts Walden in the Spotlight

Walden also discussed Disney’s choice to briefly stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September. This happened after criticism arose from host Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks regarding the person who killed Charlie Kirk, and after several major television station groups, like Nexstar and Sinclair, decided to remove the show from their local channels.

Walden said the decision was made to calm things down, not because of any political influence.

“We wanted to take the temperature down,” Walden said.

She also clarified that President Trump didn’t contact either her or Bob Iger about the suspension, contradicting claims that political pressure played a role in Disney’s decision.

“He did not. We did not hear from them,” Walden said when asked if the president reached out.

The suspension lasted roughly one week, with Kimmel returning to air on September 23rd.

Disney Denies Fallout, Critics Remain Skeptical

While Jimmy Kimmel was away, rumors spread that Disney had lost subscribers on services like Hulu. However, Craig Walden firmly disputed those reports, saying they were exaggerated.

She dismissed the reports as overblown, highlighting the company’s solid results for the quarter.

Despite Disney’s claims that the issue is resolved, many people remain doubtful – including those who follow the industry and Disney fans themselves. Online, reactions are mixed, and many believe Disney still isn’t fully recognizing how repeated controversies are adding up and affecting its reputation.

What a Dana Walden Disney CEO Era Could Mean

It’s still uncertain if Walden will be Disney’s next CEO. However, her recent statements have definitely made her a key figure in discussions about the company’s direction – conversations that go far beyond just who will lead it.

Those who support Walden see her as bringing valuable experience, strong management skills, and a steady hand to the role. However, critics view her as part of a leadership team that has allowed public trust in the brand to fall, focusing more on public relations and damage control than on making necessary changes.

With the Disney board nearing a decision, the discussion about Dana Walden becoming CEO is now very real. It’s a key question of whether Disney thinks its current struggles are due to poor implementation of plans, or a flawed overall approach to how the company is run.

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2025-12-17 00:01