Disney's new CEO is Josh D'Amaro

Josh D'Amaro, who has led Disney's parks for decades, will succeed Bob Iger as CEO and will oversee studios, streaming services and the global parks business; company leaders framed the move as a step toward orderly leadership after earlier succession turmoil.

Josh D'Amaro, the executive who runs Disney's theme parks, will succeed Bob Iger as chief executive, the company announced Tuesday. He will oversee Pixar, Marvel Studios, Star Wars, ABC, Disney+, Hulu and the global parks and cruise business. D'Amaro is 54 and has been at Disney since 1998, rising through the parks business and serving as chairman of the Disney Experiences division since 2020. The company presented the appointment as a move to keep the succession orderly after earlier leadership turmoil. Key facts: - Josh D'Amaro will become chief executive of The Walt Disney Company. - He joined Disney in 1998 and has led the Disney Experiences division since 2020; he previously ran Walt Disney World Resort. - D'Amaro emerged from a yearlong leadership contest with entertainment co-chair Dana Walden; Walden was named president and chief creative officer. - The board’s search was led by chairman James Gorman, who joined Disney’s board in 2024 after a widely lauded succession at Morgan Stanley. - D'Amaro will be the ninth leader in Disney’s roughly 102-year history, the CEO role has only been held by men, and the company's shares rose about 1.5% in premarket trading. Summary: D'Amaro's appointment places a parks-focused executive in charge of the company's studios, streaming platforms and global parks, and leaders described the decision as intended to provide orderly leadership. Undetermined at this time.