The Walt Disney Company is heading toward another major leadership shakeup, with CEO Bob Iger confirming he will step down once again—closing a defining chapter in the studio’s modern history and ushering in a new generation of executives.
After steering Disney through some of its most consequential years, including headline-making acquisitions, the launch of Disney+, and a high-stakes return to stabilize the company following Bob Chapek’s exit, Iger’s departure signals a pivotal moment. His second stint as CEO, which began in 2022, was framed as a reset during a period marked by streaming losses, internal restructuring, and industry-wide volatility.
Disney’s board has now named Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, as Iger’s successor. D’Amaro will officially assume the CEO role on March 18, 2026, bringing months of speculation about Disney’s succession plan to a close.
Iger’s recent history with the company has been layered. He first stepped down in 2020, only to return two years later as Disney grappled with mounting streaming deficits and a shifting entertainment marketplace. During his comeback tenure, Iger focused on cost-cutting measures, operational streamlining, and restoring Wall Street’s confidence in Disney’s long-term strategy.
Many industry observers credit him with stabilizing the company during a turbulent stretch. Still, questions about who would ultimately take the reins remained a constant backdrop.
The selection of D’Amaro underscores the growing importance of Disney’s Experiences division, which includes its global theme parks, cruise operations, resorts, and consumer products arm. In recent years, that segment has emerged as one of the company’s most reliable financial engines.
Under D’Amaro’s leadership, Disney’s parks navigated pandemic-era shutdowns, shifting guest expectations, and a wave of ambitious expansion projects. His operational track record—and deep understanding of Disney’s brand—made him a natural contender for the top job.
The leadership overhaul extends beyond the CEO’s office. Dana Walden has been appointed President and Chief Creative Officer, reinforcing Disney’s focus on content and storytelling as it competes across theatrical, television, and streaming platforms. The dual appointments suggest a deliberate balance: operational discipline paired with creative stewardship.
March 18 will also mark the exit of Kristina Schake, Chief Communications Officer of The Walt Disney Company.
“Kristina Schake, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, will depart the company after March 18, 2026, coinciding with the end of Bob Iger’s tenure as Chief Executive Officer,” the official Disney press release reads. “Schake, who joined Disney in 2022, has served as a member of the company’s senior management team and advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors, helping to advance Disney’s business and strategic objectives, strengthen its long-term positioning, and navigate a period of significant change for the company and the broader industry.”
Schake, a former Joe Biden appointee, reflected on her four-year tenure, noting how dramatically the company’s circumstances shifted during her time there.
“I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to serve The Walt Disney Company during such a pivotal chapter in its history. The company I joined in 2022 was in a vastly different place from where it is today, both reputationally and from a business perspective, and I am proud of the work our worldwide communications team has done to support Bob as he has put Disney on a steady course for growth for the next generation of leaders.
With that mission now successfully completed, I’m looking forward to my next challenge. Working alongside Bob, his management team, and so many exceptional communications professionals has been a privilege I will carry with me forever, and I leave with tremendous respect for this institution and great confidence in Disney’s future under Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden.”
The timing of the March 18 transition comes as legacy media companies continue recalibrating for the streaming era. While Disney’s parks and resorts have delivered steady returns, its streaming platforms have faced ongoing scrutiny regarding profitability and sustainability.
Investor reaction to the announcement has been cautious but steady, reflecting both optimism about D’Amaro’s tenure within the company and awareness of the challenges ahead. Leadership changes at a conglomerate of Disney’s size rarely unfold without uncertainty.
Still, D’Amaro’s decades-long career within Disney may offer reassurance that the company’s guiding principles will remain intact, even as its strategies evolve.
Beyond quarterly earnings and corporate restructuring, Iger’s departure represents the close of an era defined by bold acquisitions, global park expansions, and Disney’s transformation into a direct-to-consumer powerhouse.
Now, the spotlight shifts to D’Amaro and Walden as they chart Disney’s next phase. For fans and industry insiders alike, the coming months will serve as an early indicator of how the company plans to merge financial discipline with the creative ambition that has fueled it for over a century.
How do you think Disney will change under Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden? Let us know in the comments down below!
