Josh D’Amaro Expected To Allow Dana Walden Operate to with Autonomy at Disney

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With a leadership shift underway at The Walt Disney Company, observers in both the entertainment and political worlds are paying close attention. Disney recently announced that Josh D’Amaro, currently Chairman of Disney Experiences, will become the new Chief Executive Officer. Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, will take on a newly created position as President and Chief Creative Officer.

A recent article in Variety explores how Disney’s new leader, D’Amaro, plans to refresh the company. The article also notes that Walden will have a lot of independence in his role. However, some in the media industry are concerned about Walden’s political connections, wondering if they could be a problem given how politically charged the media environment has become.

Dana Walden’s Official Role

After Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, Walden joined the company and has since taken on increasing responsibilities across Disney’s entertainment divisions. According to Variety, she’s become known for her ability to attract and work with top talent. This makes maintaining a good working relationship with Walden crucial for D’Amaro, as she’s widely regarded as a highly skilled creative leader in the industry.

Those familiar with the situation have told Variety that because D’Amaro doesn’t have a background in film or TV, Walden will likely have a lot of independence in his role. Walden will report directly to D’Amaro and be responsible for all programming, marketing, distribution, and operations. However, Spencer Neumann, who used to work at Disney and is now Netflix’s CFO, shared with Variety that D’Amaro is comfortable relying on experts and surrounding himself with people who have more specialized knowledge.

Those who support the appointment believe Walden’s experience could bring much-needed stability to Disney’s creative direction. Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, described Walden as a strong leader who also cares deeply for her team – like a captain and a supportive older sister all in one.

Political Ties

Most people within the company thought Walden would become CEO, as many believed Bob Iger wanted her to take over. However, some argued that Walden’s close, thirty-year friendship with Vice President Kamala Harris could be a problem. Walden had invited Harris to her home and helped raise money for her campaign for president.

After Donald Trump won reelection, some experts suggested Bob Walden’s connections to politics could be a problem for Disney. Because Disney was increasingly seen as taking sides in political issues, there was concern Walden could become a focus of controversy. At the same time, D’Amaro had successfully avoided taking a public stance in the dispute with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the “Don’t Say Gay” law, and also during the brief suspension of Jimmy Kimmel – where Walden may have been involved.

The Balance of Power

Walden might not have become CEO due to professional issues or her relationships with people in politics. However, even without the CEO title, if she has a lot of independence in her role, the way power is distributed within Disney’s entertainment group will likely remain similar to how it would have been if she had been appointed CEO.

Today, companies are often caught in political debates, which can be risky. For Disney, a brand that’s always aimed to appeal to everyone, how the public sees it directly impacts its business. It’s still unclear whether Disney’s current approach will protect it from controversy or just draw more attention to it.

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2026-02-26 22:00