Disney’s Josh D’Amaro era begins following Bob Iger handoff

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On Wednesday, Walt Disney Company named Josh D’Amaro its new CEO, marking the start of a fresh era for the famous Burbank-based entertainment company.

During Disney’s shareholder meeting, Bob Iger officially stepped down as CEO, completing a carefully planned transition. After 20 years of leading Disney to become a major media company, Iger will now serve as an advisor until his official retirement in December.

Things are really changing in Hollywood right now, and this leadership change feels like part of that. The old studios are seriously struggling to stay relevant, and it’s a tough fight for them to keep up. I think this move is a response to that chaos, a way to try and navigate these difficult times.

Unlike many companies in our industry who are merging or struggling to stay competitive in a changing world, Disney stands alone, according to D’Amaro. He explained that the company’s future success will come from continuing to create amazing stories, using technology to improve them, and reaching audiences everywhere.

As a lifelong Disney fan, I was really excited to hear about Bob D’Amaro becoming the new CEO! He’s the ninth person to lead the company in its incredible 102-year run. Apparently, the board chose him after a long process – over two years, in fact – where they carefully considered several top executives. What really stood out to them, and what I love to hear, is that he’s not just a smart businessman, but he’s also genuinely passionate about Disney and everything it stands for. It’s reassuring to know someone who truly appreciates the company’s legacy is now at the helm.

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I’ve been following Disney for years, and I’m so excited to see Bob Iger pass the torch to Bob D’Amaro! He’s been with the company since 1998, and it’s fantastic to see his dedication rewarded. Apparently, he really stood out from the other internal contenders – it’s clear Disney sees something special in him to lead this incredible company forward.

Bob D’Amaro is now leading a hugely popular company that brings in $94 billion annually and provides jobs for 230,000 people.

Leading the company is incredibly difficult right now, with major disruptions in the media world and global political tensions. The conflict in Iran has caused fuel prices to jump, which could hurt Disney’s valuable tourism industry. Company leaders have already warned that fewer international visitors are expected at the theme parks this year.

Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East might create challenges for Disney’s proposed theme park and resort development along the coast near Abu Dhabi.

Josh D’Amaro, who recently stepped down as head of Disney’s parks and experiences division on Wednesday, began his career with the company at Disneyland 28 years ago.

As many of you can relate, I’ve been connected to Disney since I was a child, even before I started working here. I grew up in a family that loved Disney – we always watched ‘The Wonderful World of Disney’ together on Sunday nights. I was ten years old when I first visited Disneyland with my family. Disney has always felt like a place where anything is possible, full of imagination and new ideas.

Disney plans to invest $60 billion over the next ten years to expand its parks, but it’s important to maintain the classic feel of its attractions. This expansion could mean $1.9 billion worth of new development in Anaheim alone.

Disney needs to significantly boost its animation production, deal with falling profits from traditional TV channels like ESPN and ABC, and strengthen its streaming services to stay competitive in the industry.

According to D’Amaro, Disney+ isn’t just a streaming service anymore. It’s becoming the main digital hub for the entire Disney company, a place where fans can connect with all things Disney – stories, theme park experiences, games, movies, and much more – in innovative ways.

He mentioned the company’s efforts to unify Disney+ and Hulu later this year.

Disney needs to find ways to use new technologies effectively, all while protecting its beloved characters and popular franchises.

According to D’Amaro, Disney will keep exploring and using new technologies to help its creators, but not if it compromises the quality of its stories, the people who make them, or the audience’s trust. He emphasized that Disney is, fundamentally, a company that values human imagination and artistry.

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On Wednesday, Disney leaders Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden spoke to employees during a company-wide meeting, now that the process of finding a new CEO is finishing up.

Disney’s board acknowledged that Bob D’Amaro doesn’t have strong relationships with key figures in Hollywood’s writing and production communities. To address this, they reorganized leadership, promoting veteran television executive Dana Walden to the newly created role of Chief Creative Officer and making her the company’s first female president.

Jimmy Pitaro will continue leading ESPN. Alan Bergman will still oversee Disney’s film studios – including how movies are made, marketed, and distributed – and will work alongside Walden to manage streaming content.

Josh D’Amaro earns around $40 million each year in total compensation. This includes a $2.5 million salary, $26.2 million in stock incentives paid out over time, a cash bonus, and a one-time bonus of $9.7 million related to his recent promotion.

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Following his retirement from Morgan Stanley, James Gorman was looking for a significant new undertaking, and he found it in leading the process to find Disney’s next CEO.

Iger first stepped into the CEO role in 2005; his first 15 years were almost magical.

Bob Iger oversaw Disney’s purchases of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm (the creators of “Star Wars”), transforming the company into a huge entertainment success. ESPN consistently generated massive profits, and Disney’s theme parks became the gold standard for the industry.

I was so excited when Disney bought a big chunk of 21st Century Fox back in 2019 – it was a massive $71 billion deal! It really helped Disney make even more TV shows and brought in a lot of fresh talent. Plus, we got a controlling share in Hulu, which was amazing. And honestly, getting access to franchises like “Deadpool” and James Cameron’s “Avatar” felt like a huge win for all of us Disney fans.

However, the acquisition left Disney with a significant amount of debt at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was forcing the closure of its theme parks, sports venues, and halting production.

Bob Chapek first became CEO in February 2020, taking over from Bob Iger. Iger stepped down as chairman the following year, but returned as CEO in November 2022 to find the company struggling. While Disney was losing billions due to its move into streaming, that part of the business is now making a profit.

Over the next three years, Iger concentrated on strengthening four key areas of the company, one of which was making the film studios more successful and profitable.

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The Burbank company is facing challenges after aggressively expanding into streaming. Its stock price has been declining, investors are becoming impatient, and its production studios are feeling the strain.

Over the past two years, Disney has released five major movies that each earned over $1 billion globally, such as “Inside Out 2,” “Zootopia 2,” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

I was so excited to see “Hoppers,” the new Disney and Pixar movie, and it totally delivered! It made a huge $46 million at the box office just over the weekend. Apparently, that’s the best opening ever for a completely new animated movie since “Coco” came out back in 2017 – that’s amazing!

The company is hoping for big success this year with several highly anticipated movies, such as “Toy Story 5” from Disney and Pixar, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” from Lucasfilm, and “Avengers: Doomsday” from Marvel Studios.

Last year, in a podcast interview, Bob Iger said he wants to be remembered as the person who led the company to new heights – a place that would have even impressed Walt Disney himself. He envisions this legacy built on richer storytelling, bolder innovation, a willingness to take risks, and a greater focus on creating joyful experiences.

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Thomas Mazloum, currently president of Disneyland Resort, will take over as the head of all Disney parks, replacing Josh D’Amaro, the company announced on Tuesday.

During the meeting, D’Amaro saluted his predecessor and longtime boss.

Speaking for everyone at Disney – our employees, performers, investors, and fans globally – I want to express our sincere gratitude for Bob’s exceptional leadership, unwavering support, and everything he’s done for the company. He’s been a true role model, and we’ll all miss him greatly.

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2026-03-18 21:02