What Comes Next for Disney?

Well, the cat’s finally outta the bag.

The Walt Disney Company will promote Josh D’Amaro to CEO next month.

This move had been expected by many, including myself, and it’s likely going to stick.

D’Amaro has remained steadfastly loyal to Disney since 1998 and appears to be a lifer.

So, for the first time in more than a decade, we seem to have clarity about Disney leadership.

Even after the company confirmed Bob Chapek as CEO, nobody thought it would last.

Meanwhile, I struggle to envision D’Amaro being anywhere else in a decade.

With a suddenly finite structure at the top of the org chart, other questions arise.

What comes next for Disney and the other people impacted by D’Amaro’s promotion to CEO?

How Retired Will Bob Iger Really Be?

Let’s start with the question everyone will naturally wonder, as it’s been a longstanding joke.

Some Disney fans have openly asked, “How can we miss Bob Iger if he won’t leave?”

While I find such cynical behavior a bit ungrateful, I must admit it’s based in some truth.

Iger earned the role of CEO in 2005, and stories about succession arose less than a decade later.

In 2013, the executive was already in his 60s, and he privately related to friends that he was feeling fatigued.

Disney’s Board of Directors learned of Iger’s comments and pressed him to consider succession.

At this point, several candidates emerged as Disney’s next CEO.

The top two were Jay Rasulo and Kevin O. Staggs who, in a highly unusual move, swapped roles.

This was Disney’s equivalent of Freaky Friday, as the duo attempted to prove they could do each other’s jobs better.

Ultimately, Staggs won the competition and presumably became Iger’s successor.

One year later, Staggs unceremoniously departed Disney, with Iger ultimately extending his contract.

That’s been a recurring theme for a while and may have remained that way if not for a pandemic.

In late 2019, Chinese theme park officials warned Iger of the emerging danger of COVID-19.

Soon afterward, Disney haphazardly promoted Bob Chapek, who lasted less than three years as CEO.

When Iger returned, critics asserted that he’d never leave again, as Sumner Redstone had stayed at Viacom/CBS until he was 92.

Now, Iger is leaving again, although his archrival, Nelson Peltz has already claimed otherwise.

According to people like Peltz, Iger specifically chose D’Amaro so that the 74-year-old would remain involved.

I perceive that as utter nonsense as Iger really seems to want out, but who knows?

Remember that Iger already got out once before, but then surprisingly returned.

Will Dana Walden Stay for the Long Term?

Herein lies the crux of Peltz’s (presumably nonsensical) argument.

The reviled billionaire states, “Iger needs a reason to stay on.”

Then, Peltz adds, “If he put the person in charge of entertainment as the CEO, he wouldn’t have an excuse to stay on.”

Before addressing the argument, let me be clear. Peltz is being a sore loser.

He twice attempted to push his way onto Disney’s Board of Directors, failing each time.

Notably, Peltz spent a small fortune on the second campaign, only to suffer the worst loss of his career.

Then, the billionaire admitted failure on his Wendy’s campaign and bailed completely.

The company’s stock was worth half of what it had been before he got there. He’s a vulture.

So, we should take his assessments at their face value: worthless and generally hogwash.

Still, he’s not the only one thinking this, which forces me to take the argument seriously.

Disney just did exactly what I expected in promoting Dana Walden as well.

Had Iger left the company at the end of 2024, she may very well be Disney’s CEO today.

This really was a coin flip between the two executives until the past few months.

Therefore, we have two pressing questions here, not just the one in the header.

First, has Bob Iger chosen D’Amaro to guarantee that Disney’s current CEO will keep some of his current power?

Second, will Dana Walden be comfortable enough in her new role to stay at Disney long-term?

Personally, I believe that while Iger will always enjoy a goodwill ambassador role at Disney, he’s done.

The executive looks tired and acts jaded. As for Walden, well, that’s a huge TBD.

At some point, a different studio will send out feelers to her. Will she leave then? Stay tuned…

What Happens with Alan Bergman and Jimmy Pitaro?

While I’m honestly unsure whether Walden will still be at Disney in five years, I feel differently about Pitaro.

As the Chairman of ESPN, he appears to be working in a job that best suits his skills.

Since Disney may yet spin off ESPN, especially since it just lowered its ownership stake, he has reason to stay.

At some point, Pitaro could feasibly become the CEO of a standalone version of ESPN.

Since we already know the company is worth $30 billion, he’d instantly be one of the most powerful CEOs in America.

I’d be surprised if Pitaro left a potentially high-profile leadership role, but I also never say never.

Because Pitaro holds such a public-facing position, he could be offered other jobs.

Even larger corporations may covet someone with his recent track record of success.

ESPN is currently achieving record ratings at a time when broadcast television viewing has collapsed.

So, the Chairman receives the credit for this jaw-dropping performance, which makes him desirable.

Then, we have the unlikely but still plausible scenario that a professional sports organization targets him.

Should the NHL, MLB, NBA, or NFL come knocking, Pitaro would have to listen.

Realistically, only the NHL appears likely to change commissioners over the next few years, though.

Then, we have Bergman, whose situation strikes me as more tenuous.

Bergman had previously held the title of Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment alongside Walden.

Well, she just got promoted, while he didn’t. Does he take this as a slight?

To a larger point, does Walden want Bergman in this role long-term? It’s her call now.

I suspect that Bergman’s staying power depends on how Disney films perform in 2026 and 2027.

How Much Will Change at Disney under New Leadership

What I just said falls under this umbrella as well.

With a new power structure in place, Disney’s org chart will naturally evolve.

As of March 18^th, Josh D’Amaro calls all the shots at Disney, with Iger just an advisor.

Meanwhile, Walden directly reports to D’Amaro, and Pitaro presumably will as well. According to Deadline, Bergman reports to Walden now.

However, Bergman may report to Walden, as that aspect remains unclear for now.

As the new President and Chief Creative Officer, she calls the shots for all Disney entertainment divisions.

Wall Street is already awash with speculation about what D’Amaro will prioritize.

Some have suggested that he immediately control costs by performing layoffs.

Personally, I think that would be a destructive move, as it would immediately infringe on his intense popularity.

Disney should lean into D’Amaro’s celebrity by giving him a few easy wins in the short term, in my opinion.

After all, he now holds a prestigious position as just Disney’s eighth CEO in the company’s 102-year history.

Even Walt Disney himself was never the CEO at Disney, leaving that job to his older brother Roy.

Meanwhile, Walden holds a similarly august position. She’s only the fourth President of Disney in 40 years!

In fact, Disney hadn’t named anyone its President since Iger himself held the role from 2000 to 2005.

Disney has had as many Chairmen of the Board in the 2020s as Presidents over the past 30 years!

So, this role should mean something to Walden. She’s now the Frank Wells to D’Amaro, the Michael Eisner in this scenario.

Frank Wells is revered at Disney to this day. Thus, I think the new structure should work quite well.

Still, change appears inevitable now that we’re entering the Josh D’Amaro Era.

Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below. One of the agents from MickeyTravels, an EarMarked By Disney – Authorized Travel Agency – Diamond Level, will be in touch soon!

Feature Photo: Disney