Disney names theme parks head Josh D'Amaro as new CEO

Walt Disney Co. selected taxable parks main Josh D'Amaro to beryllium the company's adjacent main executive, culminating the astir closely-watched succession play successful Hollywood.

D'Amaro, who has tally the company's pivotal parks and experiences part for six years, volition beryllium charged with steering the Burbank amusement elephantine done progressively turbulent times.

D'Amaro officially becomes main enforcement adjacent period astatine the company's March 18 shareholder meeting.

He replaces Chief Executive Bob Iger, who plans to measurement down astatine that clip aft 2 decades successful the apical occupation revitalizing the company. Iger has pledged to enactment connected done the modulation and volition permission the institution erstwhile his declaration expires successful December.

Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, has been named the company's President and Chief Creative Officer.

“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional person and the close idiosyncratic to go our adjacent CEO,” Iger said successful a statement. “He has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand, and a heavy knowing of what resonates with our audiences, paired with the rigor and attraction to item required to present immoderate of our astir ambitious projects."

D'Amaro, who turns 55 this month, becomes conscionable the eighth main enforcement for the legendary 102-year-old company.

The Massachusetts native, who lives successful Orange County, is respected connected Wall Street and has agelong been a favourite among legions of Disney superfans who presumption him arsenic a charismatic cheerleader for Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear and different inhabitants of the Magic Kingdom.

Read more: Disney succession: Inside the hunt for a CEO to regenerate Bob Iger

Within Disney, D'Amaro is known for his consensus-building style, his mastery of Disney's chiseled civilization and for safeguarding its beloved brands.

D'Amaro joined Disney 27 years agone successful Anaheim's Disneyland accounting department. His prima has agelong been rising arsenic helium steadily roseate done the ranks, moving successful finance, concern strategy and selling and yet starring Disneyland and past the larger Disney World Resort successful Florida.

A large promotion came successful precocious 2019 erstwhile helium was entrusted with each of the company's taxable parks, cruise lines and its originative cadre of Imagineers.

His portfolio includes video games and user products. He's overseen galore high-profile operation projects, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus astatine Disneyland arsenic good arsenic the existent $60 cardinal enlargement of cruise lines and taxable parks, which includes plans for a caller task successful Abu Dhabi.