Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro remains the frontrunner for the position of The Walt Disney Company CEO. He and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden both pitched their visions for the company to the Disney board this summer, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Disney CEO Position
D’Amaro and Walden were among a shortlist of four executives considered likely CEO candidates. Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN and Sports Content, reportedly stated he was not interested in the role, while Alan Bergman, the other Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, does not have the charisma Disney is looking for. Over the past few years, D’Amaro and Walden have both been considered lead contenders, but D’Amaro has been squarely in first place for several months.
WSJ states both met with the board in Orlando this summer to discuss their visions for the company if they were to become CEO. D’Amaro’s strategy included a bigger role for video games in the company and integrating gaming technology throughout creative processes.
Whoever is chosen as CEO is expected to work alongside current CEO Bob Iger for a period of time before fully taking over. The board’s top priority is to cause as little drama as possible with no major exits after the decision is made. They have held contract extension talks with other executives who report to Iger and some will likely be offered expanded roles and new titles to ensure they stay.
Iger recently talked about the “social responsibility” of being Disney CEO. He replaced Michael Eisner as CEO in 2005. In 2020, he announced his retirement and named Bob Chapek as his successor. He stayed on as Chairman of the Board through 2021, handling some CEO duties amid the COVID-19 pandemic, before retiring.
But by November 2022, the Board of Directors had fired Chapek and re-hired Iger. His initial contract was for just two years, but it was later extended through 2026. Disney brought in Morgan Stanley Chairman James P. Gorman to lead the search for CEO. He was later elected Chairman of the Board.
The Walt Disney Company has stated they hope to make a CEO announcement in early 2026.
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