The Disney Company is currently searching for its next Chief Executive Officer!
©Disney
Disney’s current CEO, Bob Iger, has confirmed he will be stepping down from the position in 2026. The hunt for the next leader of the company has been “robust” with a few names leading the pack. As the time for the announcement draws closer, it seems like the search might be down to two names.
We’ve been following every detail of the Disney Company for over 15 years, especially when it comes to the Disney Company’s CEO search. The hunt for the next big name in the company has been going on since 2023, when 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 would be revealed early in 2026, and the time is finally drawing near.
©Disney
We’ve been keeping our eye on four names leading the discussions, and now a new report from Bloomberg suggests that the company has narrowed it down to its final two. The new report suggests that of the four internal candidates, it’s now become a “two-horse race” between Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden.
Bob Iger with Josh D’Amaro ©Disney
The other two names that were previously mentioned, ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro and Walt Disney Studios co-head Alan Bergman, are now considered “long shots” according to sources within the company. Throughout online discussions and rumors about the company discussion, D’Amaro and Walden were the top two contenders for a while, but according to the new report, one of them is the clear leader.
©Natacha Rafalski and Walt Disney Imagineering via Instagram
According to Bloomberg, Bob Iger previously “bristled” at the idea of Josh D’Amaro as his likely successor, and he claimed no decision had been made. He continued to confirm he wasn’t a part of the succession committee’s planning, but this latest report suggests D’Amaro is the “CEO in waiting.”
Josh D’Amaro at Destination D23, 2023 ©Disney
This doesn’t come as a major surprise, thanks to previous reports from The Hollywood Reporter, which revealed that sources said D’Amaro was “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. 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.
©Disney via IAAPA Expo 2020 Presentation
The other frontrunner, Dana Walden, recently made headlines due to her alleged involvement in Jimmy Kimmel’s “indefinite suspension,” according to Deadline. While there has been no word or implication that 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
Earlier in 2025, The Hollywood Reporter published a report on the “real-life Game of Thrones” power struggles happening right now in Hollywood, including Disney’s current search for its next leader. This search also comes after a CEO switch in 2019, which was considered by many a public failure, before Bob Iger returned to the position in 2022. The current search has been dubbed “the most watched succession game in town (and maybe the world).”
Bob Iger ©New York Post
To aid in the search, Disney hired James Gorman, chairman emeritus of Morgan Stanley, to oversee the selection process. No matter who takes on the mantle in 2026, they will be taking on some major projects, including a massive theme park expansion in California, a set of brand-new cruise ships, a massive overhaul of several areas in Disney World, a new addition in Disneyland Paris, and, most recently, a new theme park in Abu Dhabi. That isn’t even including anything outside of the Disney Parks and Experiences division, which the company has been leaning into heavily over the last few years, which also likely contributes to D’Amaro’s successorship.
Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Josh D’Amaro at the 2023 Destination D23 fan convention.
We’re eager to see who will be announced over the next few months and what spin they will put on the company as they head into the future. As always, be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more Disney news and updates.
The Walt Disney Company and Chief Executive Officer
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For the love of all things Disney PLEASE let’s not make ANOTHER Bob Chapek mistake!!
Please select someone true to Disney values and traditions!
For me, I’d like a CEO that will fix the issues that the original parks still have,that is go back to Epcot and fix the imagination pavilion, and update the land pavilion, plus Mary poppins attraction in the UK. Epcot will once again need the investment as the other 3 are having major lands and attractions added, yes Epcot looks great, but it has a weak MS green lane the sling shot round the world is dreadful, and soarin needs re filming with real footage ! I’ve just got back from Epcot, my favorite park , and I was a tad bored once we’d rode GOTG & TT 3.0, and this left me heartbroken ! In MK ROA to me was the cooler part of the park needed in the heat of Florida sun, now cars is going in its place . That’s a real shame , so whoever runs the show soon needs to let imagineers imagine, and stop all this IP stuff , and please look at merchandise . It’s really poor in H.S, that park has no soul in the merchandise area, all Toy Story and Star Wars, what happened to theme park tee’s that are actually designed For the pacific park there in. And far more $5 gifts needed for kids to actually have a chance of buying something with pocket money. Sorry to waffle, just my thoughts on how to move forward, in fact put me in charge and ME would be back and packages to front of parks and resorts .!!! Right I’m done. See ya all real soon !!
PLEASE bring in fresh blood! I will be so disappointed if Josh D is the new CEO!! He has been behind most of the bad things happening at Disney Parks and all of the price hikes. The man doesn’t understand how we live out here outside the bubble he lives in.
I pray that Josh is not the guy. We fans would like to see an outsider from Disney take the post. New ideas, new direction and new future for this iconic company that would expand Walt’s dream. A Michael Eisner type not a Bob Iger clone.
I have to say D’Amaro seems like the best choice – considering parks is where the company is actually making money. The entertainment arm has been very hit or miss the last several years. Also, Walden comes from Fox. I’m not sure she would understand the parks importance to the company. D’Amaro isn’t perfect but I think he’s the best choice.
I’d be happy with either, although I would hate to lose Josh overseeing the parks. Then again, if Dana was partly responsible for what happened to JK, that’s a red flag for me.