The Walt Disney Company announced that Josh D’Amaro, currently chairman of Disney Experiences, will succeed Bob Iger as CEO effective March 18, 2026. A 28-year veteran of the company, D’Amaro has overseen the parks and resorts division through record growth, guiding annual segment revenue to just over $36 billion in fiscal 2025—up 6 percent year-over-year—and delivering first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues of $10 billion, an 8 percent increase. Bob Iger will remain on Disney’s board and serve as a senior advisor through year’s end to ensure a seamless transition.

D’Amaro’s elevation underscores Disney’s emphasis on its parks and experiences business as the principal profit driver. The company is investing $60 billion over the next decade in new attractions, including the recently opened Zootopia Land in Shanghai and expansions in Hong Kong and Tokyo. While Disney+ has moved to break-even profitability—with management targeting low-double-digit operating margins—leadership believes that luxury, IP-driven experiences offer a more reliable path to sustained margin expansion than additional streaming subscriber growth alone.

Investor focus has shifted to how effectively the new CEO can translate Disney’s creative franchises into higher per-guest spending. Of 18 sell-side analysts covering Disney, 10 maintain Buy ratings, 6 are Hold, and 2 are Sell, with an average 12 percent upside to consensus target prices. After underperforming the broader market since 2022—when Disney shares traded at similar levels—brokers are emphasizing three catalysts for investors: D’Amaro’s track record in international park launches, margin improvement in Experiences, and the stabilization of streaming cash flows.