The Walt Disney Company has had some major announcements over the last few years.
©The Walt Disney Company
The Disney Parks around the world are getting some major overhauls, a brand-new Disney park is in development, the cruise line is expanding, and that’s just scratching the surface. While all of those announcements feel pretty big, there’s one major change on the horizon that will impact the entire company for years to come.
We are just a few months away from one of the biggest Disney announcements we’ve seen in years. If you haven’t been following along with the changes to the Walt Disney Company, no worries! We’ve been following every detail for over 15 years, especially when it comes to the Disney Company’s CEO search.
Walt Disney Company Headquarters in Burbank
Disney’s current CEO, Bob Iger, initially joined the company in 1996 when the company acquired ABC. He rose through the ranks before becoming CEO in 2005. He stayed in that position until 2020, when Bob Chapek took over. Chapek served for a few years within the company before he ultimately stepped down as CEO, and Bob Iger returned in 2022.
©Disney
In 2023, Disney confirmed that Bob Iger would stay on in the CEO position through 2026. The company confirmed in late 2024 that the name of the new CEO will be revealed early in 2026, but that is the extent of what we know for a fact on the subject. This timeline was much later than we had initially anticipated, and we are still eagerly awaiting even a hint at who could take up the mantle.
©Disney
There have been tons of speculations online over the years as to who could replace Iger, with several names coming to light, some within the company and others outside of it. As the rumors persist, there have been 4 names that have stayed in the conversation throughout changes at the company. Of those four names, many believe that Josh D’Amaro, the Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, is the most likely successor. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that sources say D’Amaro “is now in pole position,” thanks to his work overseeing the $60 billion expansion of the parks and helping Disney expand into video games with Epic, which made the game Fortnite.
Josh D’Amaro at Destination D23, 2023 ©Disney
D’Amaro also tends to be the face of announcements and media events for the company, making him the most public figure of the potential candidates. Other names that stick out during the search include Dana Walden (Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment), Alan Bergman (Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment), and Jimmy Pitaro (Chairman of ESPN). Walden, in particular, has been in the news recently due to her alleged involvement in Jimmy Kimmel’s “indefinite suspension,” according to Deadline. While there has been no word on whether this impacts her chances at the CEO position, it is hard to assume it won’t be taken into consideration in one way or another.
©Disney
Disney and Iger have remained quiet on whether any of these names are confirmed to be under consideration; however, they have confirmed it is a “robust” search and that Iger will “definitely” step down as CEO. With Disney’s focus on the theme park expansions, it is easy to assume that D’Amaro is the frontrunner (and many people believe this to be the case). While we don’t know much at this point, we are really just a few months away from a decision that could change the face of the Walt Disney Company as we know it.
©Disney via IAAPA Expo 2020 Presentation
We’re eager to see which man or woman will fill the shoes of Bob Iger, and you can be sure we will report on the news as soon as we know anything. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news and updates!
The Walt Disney Company and Chief Executive Officer
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Selfishly, I’d like to see Josh named. I think having someone who is intimately involved with the parks is important to keeping the Magic in the enterprise. And, we’ve seen what can happen when someone from another line, who doesn’t value Imagineering takes hold, and tries to enforce a business-driven agenda without the creativity this particular company embodies. My least-favorite, solely because of the affiliation, is Jimmy Pitaro. ESPN is a major element of Disney’s enterprises, but it’s not the spark behind the creativity. Iger brought that back after Chapek had what I can only conclude was a pogrom against loyal fans.
Gerry C…”pogrom” ? Had to look that up (I’m from Louisiana)…Agree with the premise, but may be a little tough on Chapek and Disney, 🤣🤣
It is a hard call either way. Park experience is so important but park prices have also been rising beyond expectations. That may not be the best approach for running the whole company. I am not saying that J is the pitch for the increases as he may not which would be a great thing. A CEO needs to have a vision that guides the company as a whole and Disney is a big beautiful company.