The Walt Disney Co. has found its new leader—a 28-year company veteran who began his career at Disney’s most prized asset, Disneyland.
Orange County’s Josh D’Amaro, who oversees the company’s most profitable division, will succeed Bob Iger as chief executive effective March 18.
Since 2020, D’Amaro has served as chairman of Disney Experiences, overseeing a multi-year, $60 billion investment aimed at turbocharging Disney’s theme parks and cruise lines, including a planned “Avatar” destination at Disney California Adventure Park.
“I am immensely grateful to the board for entrusting me with leading a company that means so much to me and millions around the world,” the 54-year-old D’Amaro said in a Feb. 3 statement.
D’Amaro is slated to become only the ninth CEO in the historic company’s 102-year history. He is taking over a company with approximately 231,000 employees worldwide who work in theme parks, on ships, in television shows and in movies.
Under his pay package, D’Amaro’s compensation could total about $35 million annually if he meets performance targets.
In recent years, the company has struggled with political battles with President Donald Trump and box-office flops, including last year’s remake of “Snow White.” Analysts estimate revenue will slow from a 6.9% increase to $100.9 billion in fiscal 2026 to 4.2% growth to $105.2 billion in fiscal 2027.
The stock has fallen almost in half from an all-time high of nearly $190 per share in 2021 to $105.41 at press time, with a market cap of $187 billion. The stock was little changed after the D’Amaro announcement (NYSE: DIS).
Elevating the company’s theme parks boss comes as little surprise to Wall Street.
Since theme parks reopened after COVID-19 shutdowns, they have emerged as Disney’s primary profit engine amid a challenging and competitive environment for its film and streaming division. D’Amaro heads Disney’s largest business segment, which generates $36 billion in annual revenue.
“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,” Iger said in a statement.
“He has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand and a deep understanding of what resonates with our audiences, paired with the rigor and attention to detail required to deliver some of our most ambitious projects.”
Coto de Caza Resident
D’Amaro joined the company in 1998 at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and continues to call Orange County his home. According to The New York Times, he lives in Coto de Caza with his wife, Susan.
He began his career at Disneyland and rose through the ranks to some of the company’s most prominent leadership roles, including president of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Florida. As head of theme parks and cruises, he oversees multiple divisions, including Disney Consumer Products, Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Signature Experiences.
D’Amaro has spearheaded the development of several-billion-dollar themed lands for Disney—from “Star Wars: Galaxy Edge” in 2019 and Hong Kong’s “World of Frozen” in 2023. The experiences division last year revealed plans for an all-new Disney park in Abu Dhabi.
When the 14-acre “Star Wars” land opened in 2019, it was the largest expansion at the theme park since it opened in 1955. At the time, D’Amaro called the “epic planet” the most immersive and transformative land Disney had ever created.
“I started my Disney career in Anaheim, and I am thrilled to be back during one of the most exciting times in our company’s history,” the then-local theme parks president said during the opening event.
The entertainment giant describes D’Amaro as “the architect of the largest global expansion in Disney Experiences history, and has led the segment to new heights financially, creatively, and in guest satisfaction.”
“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 – all of which make him the right person to take the helm as Disney’s next CEO,” Chairman James Gorman said in a statement.
Iger’s Transition
Iger will remain a senior advisor until he retires on Dec. 31. D’Amaro will also join the board of directors.
“Disney’s strength has always come from our people and the creative excellence that defines our stories and experiences,” the incoming CEO said. “There is no limit to what Disney can achieve, and I am excited to work with our teams across the company and brilliant creative partners to honor Disney’s remarkable legacy while continuing to innovate, grow, and deliver exceptional value for our consumers and shareholders.”
He competed for the job with Dana Walden, who, as co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, oversaw the company’s global entertainment, news and content operations, including its streaming services.
“People inside and close to the company saw their horse race as a contest for the soul of Disney, between real world vs. on-screen entertainment,” the Wall Street Journal reported last week.
Walden was named chief creative officer and the company’s first president.
Disneyland’s $16B Impact
Disneyland is Orange County’s largest employer with a local headcount of nearly 36,000 people across the resort’s two theme parks, three hotels and Downtown Disney District. It was reported to attract nearly 26 million visitors in 2023, according to a report from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).
The total economic impact of the Anaheim resort is $16.1 billion on the Southern California region, according to a Tourism Economics study covering fiscal year 2023.
“Our destinations create economies far beyond the gates of our parks, and when we invest in the groundbreaking experiences that only Disney can deliver, growth follows,” D’Amaro said following the report.
A few local projects have originated from D’Amaro’s run at the Experiences division, including the planned “Avatar”-themed land at DCA and an upcoming ride based on Pixar Studios’ film “Coco.” Construction is also underway at Avengers Campus, which is being expanded to include two new attractions based on the superhero films.
A major part of Disney’s investment will go toward the multi-decade, multibillion-dollar DisneylandForward development, which will build new attractions, hotels, retail and parking in Anaheim. Disneyland’s current president Thomas Mazloum was appointed at the beginning of 2025 to help direct the future projects.
