Disney has a new boss! Josh D’Amaro succeeds Bob Iger

He was until then the boss of the theme parks and consumer products section of the company. He becomes CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

He became one of the most powerful men in American industry. And, let’s not be afraid of words, one of the most powerful men in the world.

Josh D’Amaro is the new CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Responsible for the company’s theme parks and consumer products, he takes over from Bob Iger, who held the position for nearly two decades in total. Disney’s board of directors announced Tuesday the appointment of Josh D’Amaro, then chairman of Disney Experiences. He will take office at Disney’s annual general meeting on March 18. On that date, Iger will become a senior advisor and board member until his retirement, scheduled for December 31, 2026.

The other internal candidate for the job, Dana Walden, co-president of Disney Entertainment, was promoted to a new position – president and chief creative officer – also effective March 18. She will be a sort of Deputy President, alongside Josh D’Amaro.

Joining Disney in 1998 at Disneyland, D’Amaro rose through the ranks through various marketing, operations and business positions, from CFO of Disney Consumer Products Global Licensing to president of the Disneyland Resort and then the Walt Disney World Resort. In May 2020, he became responsible for parks, cruises, consumer products and Walt Disney Imagineering. Aged 54, he embodies the classic “Disney” CEO, with nearly 30 years of retail experience, and a keen understanding of how children and families interact with the brand. He is currently overseeing a $60 billion investment in the expansion of Disney parks around the world, including a new destination in Abu Dhabi.

“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next PDG” comments Bob Iger in the press release. “He has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand and a deep understanding of what touches our audiences, combined with the rigor necessary to bring our most ambitious projects to fruition. His ability to combine creativity and operational excellence is exemplary, and I am excited for Josh and the company. And Dana Walden is an excellent leader, well respected by the creative community. With creativity at the heart of everything Disney does, she is perfectly suited for this new role. Since joining Disney, she has accumulated valuable knowledge of our different professions and brands, and is perfectly prepared for this position of president and creative director.”

So what directions will the Disney group, world box office leader for years and number 2 in streaming with Disney +, take? “In a world that is changing so much, preserving the status quo would be a mistake“Bob Iger already said.”I am certain that my successor will not do this. He inherits a solid company, numerous growth opportunities, and an injunction: in a changing world, we must also continue to evolve and reinvent ourselves.“To be continued.