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Disney’s CEO Search Heats Up as the Post-Iger Era Comes Into Focus
The most-watched casting call in Hollywood right now isn’t for a Marvel reboot or a new Star Wars series. It’s the unofficial audition to succeed Bob Iger as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and according to The Wall Street Journal, the script is finally starting to take shape. After years of plot twists, delayed retirements and more leadership reshuffling than a Haunted Mansion stretching room, Disney is working hard to deliver a smoother, drama-free transition this time around.
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Iger’s track record with succession has all the stability of a Tower of Terror drop sequence. After taking over in 2005, he pushed retirement dates back five times and cycled through several would-be successors before ultimately stepping down in 2020. Bob Chapek took the helm just as the pandemic hit, only for Iger to return in a shocking 2022 reversal. Now, with Iger’s contract set to expire next December, Disney’s board says it will announce his successor in early 2026, and this time they’re determined to keep the fireworks to EPCOT, not the executive suite.
At the top of the contender list are two internal heavyweights: Disney Experiences chair Josh D’Amaro and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden. The pair reportedly met with the board this summer in Orlando to pitch their visions for a post-Iger Disney. Insiders believe whichever executive is chosen will spend time working shoulder-to-shoulder with Iger before officially assuming the role, offering the smoothest handoff the company has seen in decades.
Disney is also locking down the rest of its leadership structure to avoid a mass exodus when the new CEO is crowned. The company recently extended contracts for several key executives, including its CFO, general counsel, HR chief and communications lead, stretching into 2027 through 2029. Other major leaders are also in extension talks as the board tries to preserve continuity while steering into one of the most pivotal chapters in Disney history.
If you follow the fan chatter, D’Amaro is the name that pops up like Tinker Bell during Happily Ever After. As the charismatic face of Disney’s parks, cruise ships, consumer products and games, he’s beloved by Cast Members and fans alike. Supporters call him approachable, analytically sharp, and uniquely comfortable bridging the worlds of theme parks and Hollywood creatives. Under his leadership, the parks have become Disney’s strongest business segment, and he’s been the champion behind Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games and the growing role of gaming within the company. His vision reportedly leans heavily into expanding interactive tech and gaming across creative development.
Walden, meanwhile, brings a powerhouse creative resume that rivals any Disney princess backstory. She joined the company when Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019 and has since become one of its most respected entertainment leaders. With streaming profitability improving and multiple high-profile content wins under her belt, Walden is backed by those who believe Disney’s future must begin with revitalizing its creative pipeline. She has navigated tough negotiations, managed talent relationships and quietly steadied the entertainment division through stormy seas. Her fans argue that nothing else at Disney works unless the movies and shows work first.
Other major Disney players appear to be out of the running. Longtime film chief Alan Bergman isn’t seen as a likely successor, and ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro has reportedly expressed that he’s already in his dream role, acknowledging that he lacks experience in parks and scripted content.
While outside candidates have been floated, including Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson, most insiders think the next Disney chief will come from within. The board hasn’t ruled out the idea of co-CEOs, though the company has never gone that route before. Disney has, however, historically paired a CEO with a powerful deputy, so a two-leader structure in everything but title isn’t off the table.
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Whoever ultimately steps into Mickey’s biggest pair of shoes inherits a to-do list longer than Main Street on a Christmas morning. The next CEO must manage Disney’s $60 billion theme-park expansion, rebuild and re-energize key film brands like Marvel, strengthen Disney’s streaming ecosystem against fierce competition, and navigate the continuing collapse of traditional TV revenue as cord-cutting accelerates. It will take a little faith, trust,t and quite a lot of strategic pixie dust to guide Disney into its next era.
As the countdown to Iger’s exit continues, every executive handshake, park appearance, and conference comment is being watched like it’s a D23 teaser trailer. The board may be keeping quiet, but behind the scenes, the biggest leadership story in entertainment is already in motion.
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