Updated on: February 3, 2026 / 10:31 AM EST / CBS News
The Walt Disney Co. named parks chief Josh D’Amaro to succeed Bob Iger as CEO. D’Amaro, who oversees Disney’s theme parks and dozens of resort hotels, will become CEO on March 18, 2026, leading a company with about $36 billion in annual revenue and roughly 185,000 employees worldwide as it works to attract more foreign visitors to its parks.
Iger returned to the company in 2022 after the departure of his predecessor Bob Chapek and was tasked with cutting costs and restructuring to restore Disney’s finances, including eliminating about 7,000 jobs in 2023. Disney formed a succession planning committee in 2023 to vet candidates to replace Iger.
Disney Chairman James Gorman said the transition should be smoother than the last change in leadership. Iger praised D’Amaro’s “instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand, and a deep understanding of what resonates with our audiences.”
D’Amaro, 54, joined Disney in 1998 and has held roles in finance, strategy, marketing, creative development and operations. He served as president of Walt Disney World Resort and became chairman of Disney Experiences in 2020, overseeing parks, cruises and resorts. He also leads Disney’s licensing business, including its partnership with Epic Games.
Disney also named Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, to serve as president and chief creative officer of Disney, effective March 18.
Edited by Aimee Picchi
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
