A Look Back at Josh D’Amaro’s Extraordinary Disney Career
The news Disney fans have long been waiting for finally came down the pipeline today, as The Walt Disney Company announced that Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro will be the company’s next CEO.
D’Amaro will officially succeed Bob Iger at Disney’s Annual Meeting on March 18. As part of the transition, he will also be appointed to the Disney board.
Photo: Disney
As D’Amaro prepares to take the helm of Disney, here is a look back at his extraordinary career.
Joining Disney and Climbing the Hierarchy
Josh D’Amaro first joined The Walt Disney Company in 1998, when he was hired at Disneyland Resort. For the next two and a half decades, he would rise through the ranks of The Walt Disney Company.
After serving as Vice President of Sales and Travel Trade Marketing, D’Amaro worked as Director of Business Planning and Strategy Development.
Photo: Instagram,/JoshD’amaro
From there, he was tapped as Disney Consumer Products Licensing’s Chief Financial Officer.
In 2010, Josh D’Amaro transitioned from the business side of Disney to the Parks department.
After serving as Vice President of Adventures by Disney, he was promoted to Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Photo: Disney
In this capacity, he was instrumental in creating Pandora — The World of Avatar.
After Animal Kingdom, D’Amaro served as Senior Vice President, Resort and Transportation Operations, and Chief Commercial Officer for Walt Disney World.
Photo: Josh D’Amaro on Instagram
In 2018, he became President of Disneyland Resort, helping oversee the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
The next year, D’Amaro returned to Florida as President of Walt Disney World.
Leading Disney Experiences
Finally, in 2020, D’Amaro succeeded Bob Chapek as Chairman of Disney Experiences.
Josh D’Amaro at the Featured Session “The Future of World-Building at Disney” during SXSW Conference & Festivals in the Austin Convention Center on March 8, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Adam Kissick/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images)
In this role, he has overseen 12 theme parks, 57 resort hotels, and the early plans for Disneyland Abu Dhabi.
Additionally, D’Amaro has led Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, and Storyliving by Disney, along with Walt Disney Imagineering and Digital Consumer Products.
Anaheim, CA – June 02: Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products during the opening ceremony for Avengers Campus inside Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, CA, on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Photo also by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Over the last six years, Disney Experiences has seen numerous massive expansions, including the creation of Avengers Campus, World of Frozen, and Shanghai’s Zootopia.
Additionally, work is underway on Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Piston Peak and Disney Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, and Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom.
Image: Also Disney
After leading the parks through an unprecedented era of growth and success, Disney is handing over the helm of the company to D’Amaro.
It is hard to imagine anyone more qualified.
Photo: MickeyBlog
