Who is Josh D'Amaro, Disney's next CEO?

Core Viewpoint - The Walt Disney Company has appointed Josh D'Amaro as its new CEO, succeeding Bob Iger, marking a significant leadership change in the company's history [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership and Background - Josh D'Amaro, aged 54, has been with Disney since 1998 and has held various leadership roles, including president of Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort [2]. - D'Amaro's appointment comes during a period of substantial growth for Disney's experiences division, which includes theme parks and resorts, with a commitment of $60 billion in park investments over the next decade [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Under D'Amaro's leadership, the experiences division's revenue has increased nearly 40%, from $26.2 billion in fiscal 2019 to $36.2 billion in fiscal 2025 [4]. - The operating income for the experiences division has risen from $6.8 billion in fiscal 2019 to $10 billion in fiscal 2025, representing a nearly 50% increase [5]. - The experiences division has contributed between 55% and 70% of Disney's total profits since fiscal 2022 [5]. Group 3: Strategic Developments - D'Amaro has overseen significant developments in the experiences division, including the launch of new rides and themed lands, as well as international expansions like the Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland [9][10]. - The cruise line segment is set to double its fleet size by 2031, with three new ships already launched and a fourth on the way [10]. - D'Amaro has also pushed for investments in digital platforms, such as a $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, to attract younger demographics [11]. Group 4: Challenges Ahead - D'Amaro will face challenges in Disney's streaming and linear television business, which has been impacted by industry-wide cord-cutting and declining advertising revenue [13]. - The company has shifted focus to initiatives like bundling streaming services and introducing a cheaper, ad-supported tier to combat slowing growth in its flagship streaming service, Disney+ [14]. - Maintaining the stability and growth of Disney's streaming future will be a key focus for D'Amaro as he takes on the CEO role [15].