The succession plan at The Walt Disney Company is finally locked in.
Bob Iger will step down as CEO on March 18, 2026, closing out a return engagement that reshaped Disney during one of the most unsettled stretches in its history. In his place, the company’s board has tapped Josh D’Amaro, the current Chairman of Disney Experiences, to guide the next phase of the entertainment titan’s evolution.
Iger’s leadership has been synonymous with Disney’s 21st-century expansion. His tenure encompassed transformative acquisitions, the debut of Disney+, and sweeping global park growth. Yet his most recent chapter began under dramatically different circumstances.
After exiting in 2020, Iger re-entered the CEO role in 2022 as Disney contended with streaming losses, organizational restructuring, and uncertainty across Hollywood. His mandate was clear: steady the business and restore clarity to its long-term strategy.
Over the past several years, Iger emphasized cost discipline, operational focus, and investor confidence. While his return was widely seen as stabilizing, it also intensified scrutiny around succession—who would ultimately inherit a company navigating both creative ambition and economic headwinds?
D’Amaro, who has overseen Disney’s theme parks, cruise line, resorts, and consumer products, will take over as CEO. His division has consistently delivered strong financial results, even as the broader media landscape shifts. During the pandemic, he helped guide parks through closures and reopening phases, while later championing expansions and new guest experiences.
The appointment reflects Disney’s reliance on its Experiences arm as a revenue cornerstone. It also positions a parks-focused executive at the helm during a time when streaming economics remain under pressure.
Complementing the move, Dana Walden has been elevated to President and Chief Creative Officer. Her expanded role signals that storytelling and content output remain central to Disney’s identity and growth strategy.
The leadership transition will coincide with another high-level departure. Kristina Schake, Chief Communications Officer, will exit on March 18 as well.
“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, previously an appointee in the Biden administration, addressed her departure by reflecting on how much the company evolved during her tenure.
“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 broader context makes the transition especially consequential. Traditional media companies are still recalibrating their streaming models amid shifting consumer habits and advertising dynamics. Although Disney’s parks division has remained a dependable profit driver, its direct-to-consumer platforms continue to face scrutiny over margins and sustainability.
For Disney, this moment is as symbolic as it is strategic. Iger’s legacy includes not only headline acquisitions and global expansion, but also the transformation of Disney into a streaming-era competitor. His departure closes a chapter that shaped the company’s current identity.
What comes next will depend on how effectively D’Amaro and Walden align operational strength with creative vision. As Disney approaches its next era, fans and industry watchers alike will be looking for early signals of how the company intends to evolve while preserving the storytelling tradition that has defined it for more than a century.
How do you think Disney will shape the rest of 2026 and beyond? Let us know in the comments down below!
