Disney expected to name parks chief Josh DAmaro as next CEO, replacing longtime boss Bob Iger: sources

Disney’s board is expected to name theme park division chairman Josh D’Amaro to replace Bob Iger as chief executive officer later this week, sources told The Post.The board is expected to meet Tuesday and Wednesday before announcing that D’Amaro, 54, will replace longtime CEO Iger, who is expected to step down at the end of this year, a source with knowledge told The Post.D’Amaro, who has led the theme park unit that delivers most of Disney’s profits since 2020, has widely been considered a top candidate to succeed 74-year-old Iger.His chief rival for the top post, according to sources, has been Dana Walden, the Mouse House’s co-chair of entertainment.According to Bloomberg, which first reported D’Amaro’s appointment, the Disney board could still change its mind.

If D’Amaro clinches the top job, one Disney whisperer expects the company to give Walden some kind of elevated creative role in hopes of keeping her at the company.“The board has not yet selected the next CEO of the Walt Disney Co.and once that decision is made, we will announce it,” a Disney rep said.Shares of Disney sank over 6% Monday — despite the fact that the company beat analysts’ first-quarter expectations.

Disney reported adjusted earnings of $1.63 on revenue of $25.98 billion.Wall Street expected EPS of $1.57 on revenue of $25.74 billion.D’Amaro’s unit reported more than $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time — but that momentum is expected to slow down, to the dismay of Wall Street, as fewer international tourists are expected to visit domestic parks.Nonetheless, D’Amaro’s appointment will bring some certainty to the Mouse House and end a three-year CEO search, which since 2024 has been led by Disney chairman James Gorman, who earlier in his career ran a successful CEO transition process at Morgan Stanley.Disney’s four divisional bosses — D’Amaro, entertainment co-chairs Walden and Alan Bergman, and sports chair Jimmy Pitaro — were all ...