In an interview with David Muir, current Disney CEO Bob Iger and incoming Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro sat down for the first time since D’Amaro was named as the next CEO. The interview covered topics from a new theme park in Abu Dhabi to how Disney’s partnership with OpenAI embraces the future of technology. Here’s a rundown of the interview, and how incoming CEO D’Amaro addressed the topics.
D’Amaro & Iger Sit Down for First Interview Since CEO Announcement
The interview, which spanned under 10 minutes, invited both Iger and D’Amaro to weigh in. Here are some of the topics, and how each executive responded, based on our rough transcription of the interview.
What does D’Amaro need to do to embrace change, but preserve childhood memories that guests have of Disney?
Iger: Well, I think you touch upon something that is critical in terms of what the next CEO appreciates and what the next CEO is capable of doing.
And that is truly, truly appreciating Disney’s position in the world, and to people. Disney’s not just another company.
Disney really is a cultural institution that has touched hundreds of millions of people for now over 100 years.
And having that appreciation, knowing the place Disney occupies in people’s lives, I think is essential to anyone occupying this position in terms of their ability to move the company forward, that careful balance between legacy and innovation.
D’Amaro: Well, I think I’ve been at the company now for 27 years. I’ve had the great benefit and the great honor of working with Bob for all of those years. First from a distance, and now much more up close and personal.
And I’ve watched probably the best of the best, balance those two things.
As Bob talks about being close to the fans and the guests, this is something that’s important to me. I spend a lot of time in our beloved parks that hundreds of millions of people enjoy every year.
And I see firsthand the importance of the brand, what Disney means to them, what it means to these families.
And when you feel that, and you understand the legacy of this place, and the fact that you need to keep pushing forward and being innovative, I think I’m ready for that challenge, but I’ve learned from the best of the best.
What is your appetite for risk as the new CEO?
D’Amaro: Uh, first, you’re reminding me that I’m sitting next to Bob Iger, one of the best CEOs of all time. It’s a bit intimidating.
Iger: We know each other well.
D’Amaro: We know each other well, but, um… Bob’s a big risk-taker.
I’m a big risk taker, and that’s been true my whole life with how I’ve approached growing as an individual, to how I’ve approached the business world. I think you see that, uh, on full display today.
I mean, just several months ago, we announced a massive expansion in a new part of the world, in Abu Dhabi. We did that quickly. We did it ambitiously, and we knew there was a new part of the world to serve.
What’s the challenge in building in the Middle East?
D’Amaro: Bob has, for quite a long time, thought about the Middle East as a place that we’d like to grow. And when he came back, we had an opportunity to sit down and say let’s go for this.
Can we find the right partner? Is this the right part of the world? And we quickly determined, yes.
We have a great partner that we’re working with, and this part of the world represents a population that is young, that is huge. In fact, within a four hour flight radius of Abu Dhabi, a third of the world’s population is there.
Iger: When Josh and I first visited, we stood on that same property, and you look at the water, and you look at the sand, and you look at the place that you’re in, and you dream big, big ambition, and you think, well, we can do this.
Artificial intelligence makes people uneasy. How do you lean into AI while protecting the IP and the humans who create the IP?
Iger: I’m glad you raised that, because one of the reasons Josh was chosen for this position is, um, I’ve observed him over the years that we’ve worked together as someone that views technology as an opportunity and not a threat.
And I believe that is critical, because when you look at the history of human beings, no generation of human being has ever been able to stand in the way of technological advance. It happens.
D’Amaro: The reason this company is so special is because of how creative we are and human beings that are generating that creativity. In my mind, that never gets replaced.
And in fact, this isn’t even theory anymore. This is real.
Like, AI to Bob’s point is here, and it’s something that we’re embracing, and you’re seeing, it’s supercharged these creatives in amazing ways. And they’ve embraced artificial intelligence.
If you were to walk over to their studios today and see them using AI, harnessing seventy years of history – this is when The Walt Disney Company thrives, when technology intersects with brilliant people and creativity, and we’re in that moment right now.
What is your take on the streaming wars, and what are your hopes for elevated Entertainment chief Dana Walden?
D’Amaro: I’ll start with Dana Weldon. She is an incredibly powerful executive. She’s got years and years of experience in this space. She’s exceptionally creative. And she’s a great human being.
And I think it’s absolutely the right step to continue to push us into this next frontier.
How quickly will Bob Iger pass the reins?
Iger: Well, I’ll be stepping down as CEO on March 18th, and I’ll be an employee of the company and an advisor through the end of this calendar year, uh, and I will be available on call – should anyone want any advice from me.
D’Amaro: I’ll call.
Talk about the weight of the role of Disney CEO
Iger: You can’t just turn the switch off one day, uh, on something that you’ve been so, uh, involved with, and it becomes such an important part of your life. But I’m just looking forward to quiet moments and quieter days, and a little bit more, I don’t know, room in my life.
D’Amaro: Yeah, the responsibility, yeah. Uh, the sense of responsibility that I have for this role and this company. Of course, I feel the weight on my shoulders.
I think I should feel it, but I just feel so fortunate to be in a position to be able to be that next steward for the brand and to the next 100 years.
Questions were paraphrased at times, but the answers were transcribed to the best of our ability.
UPDATE: ABC has posted the interview to YouTube, which you can watch below!
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