Why Disney Should Choose Josh D’Amaro as CEO
Five months ago, in a stunning turn of events, Bob Iger returned as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
At the time, Disney desperately needed a change at the top, as Bob Chapek had proven that he lacked the interpersonal and PR skills needed for the job.
At the time, Iger acknowledged that he would only return for two years. As remarkable as the thought is, Iger has completed more than 20 percent of his tenure.
For succession to work this time, Disney should name the next Disney CEO sooner rather than later.


Photo: Disney
While I view two internal and two external candidates as viable choices, I’ve decided who I hope to see claim the job title.
Here’s why Disney should choose Josh D’Amaro as CEO.
An Iger Clone


Photo: Disney
Let’s start with something that should matter most in any job evaluation.
When Disney promoted Chapek, critics questioned the hire for two primary reasons.
First, Chapek had never worked as a creative. While everyone readily acknowledged his business acumen, Chapek hadn’t proved himself to the talent.


Photo: Charles Krupa/AP
Those of us fortunate enough to work with creatives understand the arcane nature of the process. Turning nothing into something proves impossible to many.
Creatives somehow achieve this task repeatedly. And they know how hard it is. They only respect others who have done it.


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Some of my dearest friends have written for television series you know and movies you’ve watched. They’ve produced Super Bowl commercials.
I can say from experience that they’re insular by nature and untrusting of outsiders. Chapek was an outsider who never earned his way into the fold.
The harsh but accurate evaluation is that Chapek alienated talents in Disney television, movies, and writing rooms.


Photo: Disney
Even worse, he publicly feuded with Scarlett Johansson over the dumbest thing, a financial disagreement where Disney had wronged the actress.
Chapek just didn’t get it.
For his part, Iger earned his bones as a creative, working under the merciless perfectionist Roone Arledge.


Photo: ABC
Arguably the greatest televised sports producer ever, Arledge didn’t suffer fools. The fact that Iger earned his respect and trust is all you need to know.
How do these comparisons relate to Josh D’Amaro? The Imagineers at Disney never accepted Chapek, but they treat D’Amaro like one of them.


Photo: Disney
Who does that sound like? Yes, D’Amaro has done the modern equivalent of Iger’s early television work.
The Parks Chairman has learned from the best and earned their trust. He’s an Iger clone in the way that matters.
Other creatives enjoy D’Amaro’s participation in the creative process…just like Iger!
The Success of the Parks Division


Photo:NYpost.com
As I’ve previously discussed, the Disney CEO job title comes with two divergent expectations.
The leader of Disney must appear comfortable with Wall Street financiers and Hollywood creatives.


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That task proved impossible to Chapek, who struggled with the latter group. The Wall Street crowd loved him, though.
The why stems from something Isaac Perlmutter recently stated in an interview. The billionaire lamented how Hollywood executives think.


Photo: History.com
Marvel’s former owner and Chairman bristles at how Hollywood obsesses on box office rather than return on investment. That’s true of many Wall Street tycoons.
Hollywood thinks in terms of the gratification that comes with substantial box office receipts.
Executives understand that strong box office leads to lucrative revenue in ancillary markets, plus merchandising and franchise possibilities.


Photo: CNBC
D’Amaro possesses no experience with any of this, but we can evaluate something similar.
What D’Amaro does with Disney’s Parks division is akin to what creatives do in producing films and television series. He’s making something out of nothing.


Photo Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew, File
So, Wall Street should at least theoretically cast a wary eye toward him. But they don’t.
That’s because money matters most.
Disney’s Parks division has excelled under D’Amaro. I’m not speaking about the creative side, either.


Photo: Dr DIsney
Instead, I’m referencing all the data MickeyBlog has discussed in Disney’s quarterly and annual fiscal earnings reports.
The Parks division has accomplished the impossible. It has increased per capita spending more than 40 percent in four years while increasing guest satisfaction.
Folks, D’Amaro’s division achieved that during a pandemic!


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The one thing that grabs Wall Street’s attention is increased margins. That’s when profits improve on the same product. Higher margins mean more money.
D’Amaro’s track record is akin to Chapek’s…but better. As a reminder, Chapek held the job before D’Amaro.
Those are Chapek’s margins D’Amaro beat by 40 percent!
The Ability to Walk Between Worlds


Photo: Walt Disney Company
Here’s another trait D’Amaro possesses that we should emphasize.
Do you remember how Iger and Chapek spent the body of two years sniping at one another via the media and mutual friends?


Photo: CNBC
Do you know who promoted D’Amaro to President of Walt Disney World Resort? It was Bob Iger, likely based at least somewhat on Chapek’s recommendation.
Do you know who promoted D’Amaro to Chairman of Disney Parks, Resorts and Experiences? That answer is Chapek.
When Bob Iger returned to power, who was the first person who lost their job?


Photo: Variety
Okay, that was Chapek, but the second person was Kareem Daniel, Chapek’s trusted lieutenant.
At the time, Daniel was effectively in charge of all Disney storytelling. Iger fired him within 12 hours of returning to his job.
I joked at the time that I doubt Daniel even packed his work laptop that morning because everyone knew what was coming.


Photo: MiceChat
What’s the odd part of that story? D’Amaro appeared loyal enough to Chapek that Iger could have ostensibly fired him, too.
Instead, we later learned that one of the reasons why Disney acted against Chapek was that the Board of Directors discovered D’Amaro considered leaving.


Photo: Instagram,/JoshD’amaro
So, the Board likes D’Amaro enough to do whatever is necessary to keep him. Chapek liked him enough to promote him once and recommend him for a previous gig.
Iger trusts D’Amaro so much that the latter individual kept his job after Chapek left. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for Iger to fire D’Amaro.
Nobody would have blinked.


Photo: Getty Images
That’s why I’m so captivated by Iger’s comments during his return. He has leaned heavily on D’Amaro for advice on the parks.
D’Amaro has somehow walked that fine line in maintaining strong relationships with Chapek and Iger, two mortal enemies.
That One Little Spark
As the song goes, one little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation.
Bob Chapek never understood this. A few weeks ago, I described his lack of Imagineering curiosity as the main reason he wasn’t the right fit as Disney CEO.


Photo: Walt Disney Company
At the time, the idea crystallized that D’Amaro possesses in abundance the very trait that Chapek lacks.
D’Amaro loves his job, and I don’t mean in a “Rah, rah, go, team!” way. He jokes that they have to kick him out of the Imagineering R&D lab.


Photo: @joshdamaro
D’Amaro remains a kid at heart, and that’s the best possible trait for a Disney leader.
Iger shares the same skill, but even he doesn’t possess that One Little Spark the way that D’Amaro does. His first love is Disney theme parks.


Image: Disney
That’s the person we want to run The Walt Disney Company. We know someone with that character trait will ensure that the parks are constantly improving.
Ordinarily, I’d worry about a creative with that behavior since I’d expect Wall Street to devour them whole.


Photo: @abigail_the_fun_princess on Instagram
However, D’Amaro’s track record in earning a record-setting amount of per capita revenue matters here.
That piece of intel suggests that D’Amaro won’t overlook the bottom line in running Disney.


Source: CNBC.com
In a way, his training under Chapek makes him the ideal candidate here.
D’Amaro is the love child of Chapek, the Wall Street disciple, and Iger, the creative at heart.
Sure, his parents hate each other and aren’t on speaking terms, but that’s a lot of us, right?


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When Iger returned, his unstated mission involved saving the soul of Disney. I’m devout in the belief that D’Amaro is the person who can do that.
Please anoint him, Disney. It’s time.


Image: MickeyBlog
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