Coming from being chairman of The Walt Disney Company’s parks and experiences division, Josh D’Amaro has been tapped to transition to CEO of the company. This is not the only promotion, with Dana Walden being promoted to president and chief creative officer, the pair will officially step into their new roles March 18 at the time of Disney’s annual meeting.
D’Amaro will also prepare to join the board at this time. He will be ending a years-long journey to decipher who is the person to lead Disney successfully into the future. Bob Iger acted as CEO at Disney from 2005 through 2020 when Bob Chapek was elevated from the parks division to take over as CEO, a move that caught the industry off guard. Iger however returned in 2022 after missteps leading to a dip in Disney’s stock price, with the intent of bridging the gap and assisting in the search for a successor. The chairman of Disney’s board James Gorman lauded D’Amaro and asserted the board’s faith in him as having the unique skill set that will elevate the Mouse House into the future.
Josh D’Amaro possesses that rare combination of inspiring leadership and innovation, a keen eye for strategic growth opportunities, and a deep passion for the Disney brand and its people… Throughout this search process, Josh has demonstrated a strong vision for the company’s future and a deep understanding of the creative spirit that makes Disney unique in an ever-changing marketplace. He has an outstanding record of business achievement, collaborating with some of the biggest names in entertainment to bring their stories to life in our parks, showcasing the power of combining Disney storytelling with cutting-edge technology…
Dana Walden taking a step up alongside D’Amaro finalizes an internal succession process spearheaded by chairman of the board James Gorman. Gorman was a former CEO at Morgan Stanley and although external candidates were considered, Walden and D’Amaro were said to be top contenders throughout the entirety of the process. The roles of Walden’s entertainment co-chair Alan Bergman and ESPN chief Jimmy Pitaro will remain unchanged, essential to the process as Disney prepares to chart this new course.
At the forefront of these decisions was D’Amaro and Walden’s respect and experience on the creative side of the business. Unlike Chapek, D’Amaro is said to have maintained strong relationships with creative minds at the company and was quoted by the Hollywood Reporter emphasizing the importance of Walt Disney’s original vision for his company. D’Amaro was successful in supervising a $60 billion expansion in the experiences division that included implementing new innovative attractions, cruise lines, and theme parks around the globe. With Bob Iger’s time at the Walt Disney Company coming to a close at the end of this year, Gorman praised the soon to be former CEO.
The Board asked Bob to return as CEO in 2022 for two critical reasons. First, to lead the company through a challenging transition and ensure Disney was fit for purpose for the future. Second, to strengthen the leadership bench and to help develop candidates for the CEO transition. Bob has delivered on both priorities, while also guiding Disney through a transformative period with an ambitious strategy that has further strengthened its position as the world’s premier entertainment company.
We will be sure to keep you updated on any future news on these developments at the Walt Disney Company here at MXDWN.
Leave a Comment