CONFIRMED: Bob Iger to Leave Disney CEO Role EARLY

Josh D’Amaro was just named the new CEO of The Walt Disney Company. This was a move that many experts predicted, but the timing was less than 24 hours after the company’s Q1 earnings call, slightly sooner than expected.

However, there’s something extremely interesting about the announcement made that we feel is important to point out. Previously, it had been mentioned that the current CEO, Bob Iger, would not be stepping down from his position until the end of 2026. This new announcement, though? Josh D’Amaro will become the new CEO effective in Marcg, about nine months earlier than Bob Iger is contracted to step down. What does this mean? Let’s break it down.

The board voted unanimously yesterday, Monday, February 2nd, to appoint D’Amaro as the new CEO, which will become effective at the upcoming Annual Meeting on March 18th, 2026. This meeting will be when he’ll officially succeed Bob Iger. Following the meeting, the board also plans to immediately appoint D’Amaro as a director on the board.

When speaking about Josh D’Amaro as the new CEO, Bob Iger is quoted as saying, “Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO. He has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand, and a deep understanding of what resonates with our audiences, paired with the rigor and attention to detail required to deliver some of our most ambitious projects.” He continued by saying he’s thrilled for both D’Amaro and the company as a whole. Additionally, Disney Chairman James Gorman said on CNBC this morning (Tuesday, February 3rd) that while Bob Iger felt he could remain CEO through the end of the year, he had “developed the talent” to replace himself, and felt that retiring “sooner was better.”

However, Iger is still contracted to be with the company through the end of 2026, so what will his role be? Thankfully, Disney gave us that answer further into their announcement. Iger has given extensive mentorship to the internal candidates throughout the process of choosing the new CEO, and once D’Amaro takes over in March, he’ll serve as a Senior Advisor and a member of the Disney Board until he officially retires on December 31st, 2026.

When speaking about his new role, D’Amaro has said that he’s “immensely grateful to the Board for entrusting me with leading a company that means so much to me and millions around the world.” He also expressed his gratitude to Bob Iger for his mentorship, friendship, and the impact his leadership has had. He continued to say, “Disney’s strength has always come from our people and the creative excellence that defines our stories and experiences. There is no limit to what Disney can achieve, and I am excited to work with our teams across the company and brilliant creative partners to honor Disney’s remarkable legacy while continuing to innovate, grow, and deliver exceptional value for our consumers and shareholders.”

Dana Walden, current co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, was also a frontrunner for CEO, and has now been put in a new leadership role — President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company. She will report directly to D’Amaro, and, according to Disney’s statement, will “ensure that storytelling and creative expression across every audience touchpoint consistently reflect the brand, engage audiences at scale, and advance core business objectives, while driving enterprise-wide initiatives and translating vision into action.”