Josh D'Amaro
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Get ready to meet the man who will soon be steering the magic. Josh D'Amaro, born February 10th, 1971, is an American businessman, and since 2020, he's been at the helm of Disney Experiences. But mark your calendars, because on March 18th, 2026, he's set to become the chief executive officer of the entire Walt Disney Company, succeeding Bob Iger. D'Amaro isn't new to this world; he's dedicated 27 years to Disney, with a deep specialization in its iconic resorts.
His journey began with a solid foundation, graduating from Georgetown University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He then honed his skills in the finance department at the Gillette Company in Boston, before officially joining the Walt Disney Company in 1998.
For his first decade at Disney, D'Amaro climbed the leadership ladder, holding a variety of key roles. From 1998 to 2008, he was instrumental in sales and travel trade marketing, and even contributed to business planning and strategy development between 2005 and 2006. By 2008, he was leading the charge as the chief financial officer for Disney Consumer Products Licensing, a position he held for two years.
His path then led him directly into the heart of Disney's most beloved destinations. In 2010, he was promoted to vice president of Adventures by Disney, overseeing all group guided tour operations to incredible U.S. and international locations.
From 2013 to 2014, D'Amaro played a pivotal role as vice president of Disney's Animal Kingdom. It was during his tenure that the theme park embarked on its monumental expansion, including the breathtaking Pandora – The World of Avatar, a collaboration with James Cameron and the park's largest expansion to date. Following this, in September 2014, he transitioned to senior vice president of Resort & Transportation Operations at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, a role he held until February 2017.
The years between 2017 and 2020 saw rapid growth and dynamic shifts in D'Amaro's responsibilities within Parks, Experiences and Products. He was promoted to Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney World Resort, a significant advancement, before taking on the esteemed position of president of Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. After a successful period there, he returned to Florida to lead as president of Walt Disney World Resort.
In 2020, as Bob Chapek stepped into the CEO role, D'Amaro was appointed chairman of Disney Experiences on May 18th, 2020, amidst the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This crucial role places him in charge of the attractions, cruise ships, merchandise, and retail operations across all six Disney theme parks globally, spanning California, Florida, France, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
The pandemic brought significant challenges, including a workforce reduction of 28,000 employees across Disney's theme parks in September 2020. While many Disney resorts began phased reopenings, Disneyland Resort in California faced a prolonged closure of its theme parks, impacting cast members and staff.
As COVID-19 restrictions eased in early April 2021, D'Amaro spearheaded the phased reopening of various Disney parks and services. On April 30th, 2021, Disneyland Park in Anaheim welcomed guests back, marking the final Disney resort to reopen after the initial global closure. Disneyland Paris, after a second closure, reopened on June 17th, becoming the last to welcome visitors overall and one of three resorts to experience multiple closures and reopenings due to local restrictions, alongside Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland.
Now, a new chapter is being written. On February 3rd, 2026, Bob Iger named Josh D'Amaro his successor as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. He will officially assume this monumental role on March 18th, 2026, ready to lead the company into its next era of enchantment.
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Josh D'Amaro (born February 10, 1971) is an American businessman, and the chairman of Disney Experiences since 2020. He will succeed Bob Iger as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Walt Disney Company on March 18, 2026. D'Amaro has been employed by the Walt Disney Company for 27 years, specializing in its resorts sector.
== Education and early career ==
In 1993, D'Amaro graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He began his career in the finance department of the Gillette Company based in Boston before joining the Walt Disney Company in 1998.
== Career in the Walt Disney Company ==
For the first 10 years of his career at Disney, D'Amaro held various leadership positions. From 1998 to 2008 he was vice president of sales and travel trade marketing. During that time he was also director of business planning and strategy development from 2005 to 2006. In 2008, he became chief financial officer of Disney Consumer Products Licensing business and held the position for two years.
=== Positions within Disney Parks, experiences and products ===
In 2010, he was promoted to vice president of Adventures by Disney based in Celebration, Florida. This position meant he oversaw all group guided tour operations to various U.S. and international destinations.
From 2013 to 2014, D'Amaro was vice president of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Ultimately, D'Amaro was vice president as the theme park planned its major expansion to include Pandora – The World of Avatar, the joint venture between Disney and James Cameron and the largest expansion in its history. After the expansion of Disney's Animal Kingdom began construction, in the September 2014, D'Amaro became senior vice president of Resort & Transportation Operations at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, working in this position until February 2017.
From 2017 to 2020, D'Amaro's positions within Parks, Experiences and Products changed quickly. In 2017, he was promoted to CCO of the Walt Disney World Resort, a higher position that he held for a year before taking on the role of president of Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, another role he held for a year and a half, before returning to Florida to become president of Walt Disney World Resort.
In 2020, Bob Chapek succeeded Bob Iger as CEO of the Walt Disney Company. On May 18, 2020, D'Amaro succeeded Chapek as chairman of Disney Experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The chairmanship means D'Amaro is responsible for the management of attractions, cruise ships, merchandise and retail of all six theme parks in California, Florida, France, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
On September 29, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney cut 28,000 employees from its theme parks. Despite the phased reopening of many Disney resorts around the world during the summer of 2020, Disneyland Resort in California was unable to reopen its theme parks and furloughed cast members and staff.
In the beginning of April 2021, as COVID-19 restrictions were being lifted, D'Amaro had set about reopening certain Disney parks and services to the public. On April 30, 2021, Disney reopened Disneyland Park in Anaheim, which was the final Disney resort to reopen after the initial closure. Disneyland Paris reopened on June 17 after the second closure on October 30, 2020, making it the final Disney parks and resorts to be reopened overall and one of three Disney resorts to close, reopen, and close again due to local government restrictions, the others being Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland.
On February 3, 2026, Iger named D’Amaro his successor as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. He will assume the position on March 18, 2026.
== References ==
== External links ==
Corporate biography
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