A new report from the Wall Street Journal outlines the current state of the selection process for The Walt Disney Company’s next CEO. As previously announced, a new CEO will be announced in early 2026, with the new executive expected to take the reins at the end of the year when current CEO Bob Iger’s contract expires. Right now, it looks like current parks boss Josh D’Amaro is in the top spot as final decisions are made.
Josh D’Amaro Leading Disney CEO Race
As we get closer to the announcement of a new Disney CEO in “early 2026”, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro is emerging as the leading contender.
In January 2023, the Board intensified and expanded its approach to CEO succession planning through the formation of a special Succession Planning Committee to advise the Board and plan for a transition of leadership that aligns with the Company’s long-term strategic goals.
Board member James P. Gorman is leading the committee. Gorman, who joined the Disney Board in February 2024, oversaw the succession process at Morgan Stanley, where he serves as Executive Chairman, following several years as the firm’s Chairman and CEO.
After considering some outside hires, Disney is reportedly going to hire from within, according to the report.
The new report says D’Amaro is “widely considered the leading contender to be the next CEO”, and names television head Dana Walden as his “strongest rival” in the race for the top spot. Both D’Amaro and Walden reportedly met with the Board this Summer at Walt Disney World to pitch their visions for the future of the company.
According to the report, whoever is named as the next CEO is expected to work alongside Iger for a while to learn the ropes before officially taking over.
The report says that one of the Board’s top priorities is to ensure there is as little drama surrounding it as possible, with no major exits when the new CEO is selected. The report says that upcoming contract negotiations following the CEO selection could include expanded responsibilities or bigger titles for top executives who don’t become CEO, as well as compensation increases, to motivate them to stay.
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Not good…
Better D’Amaro than Dana Walden. She blew it big time with the Jimmy Kimmel debacle. Josh D’Amaro is a well-known face and popular with guests as well as shareholders.