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Disney Names Josh D’Amaro CEO as Dana Walden Becomes President and Chief Creative Officer

The board’s decision caps a long search, signaling a push to align parks-led operations with a centralized creative strategy under Dana Walden.

Overview

  • D’Amaro will formally take the helm on March 18 at Disney’s annual meeting and will be appointed to the company’s board.
  • Walden steps into the new President and Chief Creative Officer role reporting to D’Amaro, with a mandate to coordinate storytelling, streaming and distribution.
  • Bob Iger stays on as senior adviser and board member through December 31, 2026, offering continuity as leadership transitions.
  • D’Amaro has led Disney Experiences since 2020, overseeing parks, cruises and resorts that generated about $36 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue.
  • An employee town hall drew strong internal support as executives highlighted next steps to fill leadership vacancies and address priorities in streaming metrics, box-office performance and ESPN deals, with D’Amaro calling himself a “big risk taker” and pointing to the Disneyland Abu Dhabi expansion.