Bob Iger Successor Revealed as Disney Confirms New CEO

Disney has officially chosen its next leader. According to a company announcement released Tuesday, The Walt Disney Company has named Josh D’Amaro as its new Chief Executive Officer following a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors.

D’Amaro will officially step into the role on March 18, the same day as Disney’s Annual Meeting. He will take over from Bob Iger, marking the end of Iger’s second run as CEO. D’Amaro has been with Disney for nearly three decades. Over the past 28 years, he worked his way up through the company and most recently led Disney Experiences.

That division includes theme parks, cruise lines, and consumer products. During the 2025 fiscal year, the segment brought in $36 billion in revenue, according to Disney’s financial reports.

Board Chairman James Gorman praised the decision in a statement released by the company. He said Josh D’Amaro possesses that rare combination of inspiring leadership and innovation needed to guide the brand into a new era.

Bob Iger also shared his support for the transition. Iger returned as CEO in 2022 after retiring, with the goal of steadying the company during a difficult period. In his statement, he said D’Amaro has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand and the ability to manage its biggest ambitions. While Iger will step down as CEO in March, Disney confirmed he will remain a senior advisor through the end of the year before fully retiring on December 31.

Alongside the CEO announcement, Disney also revealed a major leadership shift on the creative side. Dana Walden has been named President and Chief Creative Officer. She currently serves as Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment and will now oversee creative decisions across film, television, streaming, and news. According to Disney, Walden will report directly to D’Amaro.

Walden has already played a key role in recent TV success. Under her leadership, shows like The Bear and Only Murders in the Building have earned awards and helped grow Disney+ and Hulu audiences.

D’Amaro responded to his promotion with gratitude. In a statement shared by Disney, he said I am immensely grateful to the Board for entrusting me with leading a company that means so much to me.

He is already well known to fans for shaping some of Disney’s biggest theme park expansions. Projects like Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and the World of Frozen were developed under his leadership. Disney has also teased future plans, including a Villains-themed land and a Monsters Inc area.

The leadership change comes during a strong period for the company. Disney recently saw box office success with films like Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash. The company has also drawn attention for its $1.5 billion partnership with Epic Games, which will bring Disney characters into Fortnite.

Looking ahead, Disney has a full slate of projects. Upcoming releases include Toy Story 5 and a live-action version of Moana starring Dwayne Johnson. The company is also planning to open a new theme park in Abu Dhabi and expand its use of artificial intelligence through a partnership with OpenAI, according to corporate announcements.

With Josh D’Amaro leading the company and Dana Walden guiding creative direction, Disney appears focused on blending business growth with storytelling. The next chapter will test how well that balance works in a fast-changing entertainment industry.

What do you think about Josh D’Amaro taking over as Disney CEO? Share your thoughts in the comments.