Today is Bob Iger’s AND Josh D’Amaro’s Birthday
February 10 may go down as one of the most important dates in the history of The Walt Disney Company, as both Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro are celebrating their birthdays today!
That’s right, as strange as it sounds, both the current Disney CEO and his successor were born on the same day, twenty years apart.
Photo: Disney
To celebrate, it only seems right to look back at both men’s illustrious careers.
Bob Iger’s Illustrious Career
Robert “Bob” Iger was born on February 10, 1951, in New York City.
After graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in television and radio, Iger took a job at ABC. Over the next two decades, he climbed the corporate hierarchy.
In 1996, Iger made the jump to Disney when the company bought ABC. He was quickly named Chairman of the ABC Group.
Photo: Disney
Three years later, Iger was promoted to President of Walt Disney International. In 2000, he was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer, reporting directly to then-CEO Michael Eisner.
Finally, in 2005, Iger was named CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
Photo: Deadline
For the past two decades, he has overseen unprecedented growth within the company, including the purchases of Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 21st Century Fox.
Josh D’Amaro Was Born 20 Years Later
Twenty years after Bob Iger was born, his successor, Josh D’Amaro, entered the world.
Photo: Josh D’Amaro on Instagram
After earning a degree from Georgetown University, D’Amaro worked at Procter & Gamble.
In 1998, D’Amaro joined The Walt Disney Company when he was hired at Disneyland Resort.
Photo: The Walt Disney Company — Josh D’Amaro (Chairman; Disney Parks, Experiences and Products)
For the next two and a half decades, he would rise through the ranks of the company, serving as Vice President of Sales and Travel Trade Marketing, Director of Business Planning and Strategy Development, and Chief Financial Officer of Disney Consumer Products Licensing.
In 2010, Josh D’Amaro transitioned from the business side of Disney to the Parks division.
After serving as Vice President of Adventures by Disney, he was promoted to Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Later, D’Amaro served as Senior Vice President of Resort and Transportation Operations and Chief Commercial Officer for Walt Disney World.
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.
Image: Disney
Finally, in 2020, D’Amaro succeeded Bob Chapek as Chairman of Disney Experiences.
A New Era
As Disney embarks on a new era, February 10 will remain an important date in company history.
Photo: Josh D’Amaro on Instagram
Happy birthday, Bob and Josh!
