By Jim Carchidi
February 3, 2026
The Walt Disney Co. has ended months of speculation surrounding its future leadership. In a Feb. 3 announcement, the company’s board of directors named Josh D’Amaro as the successor to current CEO, Bob Iger.
Career history
Josh D’Amaro was named Walt Disney World President in 2029 before moving into his current role as Chairman of Disney Experiences in 2020. Images courtesy of The Walt Disney Co.
D’Amaro joined Disneyland Resort in 1998 and was named resort president in 2018. In November of 2019 he succeeded George Kalogridis as president of Walt Disney World Resort. D’Amaro frequently walked the streets of Magic Kingdom with a personable demeanor that made him approachable and popular to many Walt Disney World guests cast members.
He was promoted in 2020 to Chairman of Disney Experiences, where he currently oversees Disney’s 12 theme parks and 57 resort hotels, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney Consumer Products. Walt Disney Co. announced on Feb. 2 that the Experiences division posted $10 billion in revenue for the first time in company history.
Local achievements
D’Amaro helped oversee the development of several Walt Disney World attractions including Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and the upcoming Villains Land.
D’Amaro has helped expand the immersive experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and the upcoming Monstropolis area. He also oversaw the development of the Cars-inspired Piston Peak National Park, and the Disney Villains Land; both currently under construction at Magic Kingdom. D’Amaro made the Villains Land announcement at the 2024 D23 event at Anaheim Convention Center.
The attractions are among several upcoming additions to Disney's Orlando parks that include an immersive animation experience and a reboot to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Walt Disney World Resort is also planning to open Lakeshore Lodge in 2027.
D’Amaro’s transition from his current position to company CEO will be official on March 18. Iger will then serve as a senior adviser and board member until his retirement on Dec. 31.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
Enjoy this blog post? Click here to subscribe for updates
Leave A Comment