It’s Officially the End of an Era for Disney As Major Future Change Confirmed After 21 Years

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Disney faced a lot of challenges in the early 2020s. The decade started with a change in leadership, as Bob Chapek replaced Bob Iger as CEO right before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of Disney’s theme parks and theaters. The company then dealt with several controversies, which eventually led to Bob Chapek’s removal and Bob Iger’s return as CEO. Upon his reinstatement, Disney stated that a key goal of Iger’s return was to develop a plan for future leadership.

After 21 years with Bob Iger leading the company, Disney has announced its next CEO: Josh D’Amaro, currently Chairman of Disney Experiences. D’Amaro, a 28-year Disney veteran, will officially take over at the annual shareholder meeting on March 18, 2026. Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, will also take on a new role as President and Chief Creative Officer. These changes raise the question: what do they mean for the future of Disney?

Walt Disney Company Confirms New CEO, Promoting Josh D’Amaro

To understand how Bob D’Amaro’s leadership as Disney CEO might impact fans, it’s helpful to look at his career so far. He’s been with Disney since 1998, starting at Disneyland Resort, and has primarily focused on the company’s theme parks, hotels, and cruise lines. Under his guidance, Disney parks have grown significantly with additions like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Marvel’s Avengers Campus. However, not every project was successful; the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience, for example, didn’t perform as hoped.

Essentially, D’Amaro is skilled at collaborating with different teams at Disney to understand what makes each franchise special and how to bring those stories to life in the parks. While it’s still to be seen how D’Amaro will influence Disney’s creative direction as CEO, Dana Walden’s new role will be key, as she’ll be the main point of contact for Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Disney Studios.

The new leadership team is taking over a company with a very strong pipeline of upcoming movies. Major releases like Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian & Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter, Pixar’s Toy Story 5, and Disney Animation’s Frozen 3 are all on the horizon. These big films could provide a buffer against any initial challenges, or, more likely, set the stage for continued success under their leadership.

D’Amaro was also involved in Disney’s digital projects, including a new collaboration with Epic Games to create a Disney experience within the popular game Fortnite. This involvement suggests The Walt Disney Company might finally succeed in the video game market, an area where they’ve faced challenges in the past.

Josh D’Amaro, the new CEO of The Walt Disney Company, expressed his deep appreciation to the Board for choosing him to lead such a beloved company with a global reach. He emphasized that Disney’s success comes from its talented employees and the high quality of its storytelling and experiences. D’Amaro is confident in Disney’s potential and looks forward to collaborating with teams and creative partners to build on the company’s history while continuing to innovate and provide value to both customers and investors. He also thanked Bob Iger for his guidance, friendship, and strong leadership.

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2026-02-03 18:40