Disney taps parks chief D'Amaro to replace CEO Iger
· Toronto Sun
Disney parks chief Josh D’Amaro is taking over from Bob Iger as the entertainment giant’s CEO.
D’Amaro, a 28-year veteran of the company, will become the 9th CEO in the more than 100-year-old company’s history as he takes over for Iger on March 18.
D’Amaro a proven moneymaker for Disney
In selecting D’Amaro, Disney taps the leader of the part of its business that has delivered the most reliable profits in recent years, as the company works to find its way in the world of streaming. He has overseen the company’s theme parks, cruises and resorts since 2020. The Experiences division has been a substantial moneymaker for Disney, with $36 billion in annual revenue in fiscal 2025 and 185,000 employees worldwide.
The decision ends a succession dilemma for the company that Iger has led for approximately 20 years, interrupted by a brief interlude that ended in 2022 when the board ousted his successor Bob Chapek and asked for him to return to his CEO role.
Good and bad times for Disney
54-year-old D’Amaro takes over at a time when Disney has enjoyed recent box office success with hits such as Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash . Its streaming services, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ started turning a profit in 2024 due to price increases, ad-supported plans and growing subscriber demand.
At the same time, while still profitable, Disney has seen a decline in foreign visitors to its U.S. theme parks. Tourism to the U.S. has taken a hit following an aggressive immigration crackdown by the Trump administration alongside clashes with American trading partners.
Tall order for D’Amaro
As the new CEO, D’Amaro will take the helm during a period when American media companies face increased political pressure. Disney is a prime target for Republicans for promoting “woke” values.
The company found itself in a battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022 when then-CEO Chapek spoke out against a controversial state bill that restricted some instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms. DeSantis retaliated by stripping longstanding special privileges granted to Walt Disney World in Central Florida, appointing a board that threatened to hike taxes, raise utility rates and develop the land around the theme park. Disney sued and the two sides resolved their differences in a 2024 settlement.
Recently, the company drew headlines when it temporarily suspended late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel for his comments shortly after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Disney vs. ScarJo
The controversies haven’t been limited to politics. The company was in a high-profile legal battle with actress Scarlett Johansson back in 2021, when the Black Widow actress sued the company for breach of contract by releasing the film simultaneously on Disney+ and in theatres, costing her an estimated $50 million in bonuses related to box office revenues. The company settled with the actress, but terms of the deal were not disclosed.