{"id":2267039,"date":"2026-02-04T22:06:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2267039"},"modified":"2026-02-04T22:06:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:06:23","slug":"at-disney-bob-iger-succeeded-masterfully-but-new-ceo-josh-damaro-still-faces-many-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/at-disney-bob-iger-succeeded-masterfully-but-new-ceo-josh-damaro-still-faces-many-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"At Disney, Bob Iger ‘succeeded masterfully.’ But new CEO Josh D\u2019Amaro still faces many challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

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After two decades and two stints as Walt Disney Co. boss, Bob Iger finally is hanging up the reins.<\/p>\n

Disney this week tapped 54-year-old parks chief Josh D\u2019Amaro to succeed Iger as chief executive. The handoff is set for March 18, at the company\u2019s annual investor meeting, with Iger staying on as a senior advisor and board member until his December retirement.<\/p>\n

The changing of the guard atop one of America\u2019s iconic companies marks the end of an era. <\/p>\n

\u201cClosure is wonderful,\u201d Iger told Disney employees Wednesday during a town hall meeting to roll out the new team. \u201cI leave with a tremendous sense of confidence in the hands I\u2019ve left this company in.\u201d<\/p>\n

History probably will remember Iger as a visionary leader who transformed Disney by reinvigorating its creative engines through a series of blockbuster acquisitions, broadening its international profile and boldly steering into treacherous streaming terrain by launching Disney+ and ESPN+ as audiences drifted from the company\u2019s mainstay TV channels.<\/p>\n

Iger, 74, has long been Hollywood\u2019s most respected and inspiring studio chief, known around town simply as \u201cBob.\u201d <\/p>\n

Disney Chairman James Gorman said in an interview that Iger\u2019s nearly 20 years in power is framed by two epochs: \u201cBob 1\u201d and \u201cBob 2.\u201d<\/p>\n

After becoming CEO in 2005, Iger presided over a period of remarkable growth. Through acquisitions of Pixar Animation<\/a>, Marvel Entertainment<\/a> and the \u201cStar Wars\u201d studio, LucasFilm, the company gained blockbuster franchises and popular characters, including Captain Marvel, Baby Yoda and Sheriff Woody from \u201cToy Story,\u201d to populate movie theaters and theme parks.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob steadied the company and built it out,\u201d Gorman said. \u201cHe created an absolute powerhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simultaneously, Iger strived to preserve ABC, ESPN and the whimsical charm<\/a> that spilled from founder Walt Disney\u2019s imagination<\/a> so many decades ago. Iger has treasured such animated gems as Mickey Mouse<\/a>, Goofy, Winnie the Pooh<\/a>, Polynesian princess Moana<\/a> and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Iger era has been defined by enormous growth, an unyielding commitment to excellence in creativity and innovation, and exemplary stewardship of this iconic institution,\u201d Gorman said in a statement on behalf of the board, adding: \u201cWe extend our deepest gratitude to Bob Iger for his extraordinary leadership and dedication to The Walt Disney Co.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former CEO Michael Eisner<\/a> told The Times that Iger has \u201csucceeded masterfully\u201d at every turn. <\/p>\n

\u201cFrom ABC Sports to ABC Television Network and then at Disney, when we inherited him in the ABC\/Capital Cities acquisition, Bob created success upon success,\u201d Eisner said. \u201cIt\u2019s why he was picked as the Disney CEO, a role that has been his greatest success … What a record!\u201d<\/p>\n

Iger\u2018s first reign ended when he stepped down as CEO in February 2020, then retired from the company 22 months later. <\/p>\n

But that leadership handoff<\/a> proved disastrous, becoming Iger\u2019s biggest blunder \u2014 one he has since worked hard to correct.<\/p>\n

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<\/picture>\n
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Bob Iger passed the CEO torch to Bob Chapek in 2020. <\/p>\n

(Business Wire)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Former parks chief Bob Chapek stepped into the big role, but he lacked stature, creative chops and support among key executives. He quickly confronted the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shuttered Disney\u2019s revenue machines \u2014 theme parks, movie theaters and sporting events that anchor ABC and ESPN.<\/p>\n

Wall Street soon soured on multibillion-dollar streaming losses by Disney and traditional entertainment firms that were jumping into streaming to compete with Netflix. The company\u2019s stock fell.<\/p>\n

Chapek also stumbled into a political feud<\/a> with Florida\u2019s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who branded Disney as \u201cwoke.\u201d The public tussle tarnished the Burbank company\u2019s clean image and undermined its goal of entertaining the masses, no matter their political stripes.<\/p>\n

The board beckoned Iger back in November 2022 to quell a revolt by senior Disney executives and allay concerns among investors. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I came back three years ago, I had a tremendous amount that needed fixing,\u201d Iger acknowledged during a Monday earnings call with analysts. \u201cBut anyone who runs a company also knows that it can\u2019t just be about fixing. It has to be preparing a company for its future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Succession immediately became the board\u2019s top priority with Iger then in his early 70s. But Disney\u2019s executive bench<\/a> had thinned<\/a> through a series of high-level departures<\/a> and the company\u2019s expenditures had gotten out of control. <\/p>\n

Iger restructured the company, which led to thousands of layoffs, and gave division executives financial oversight to, in Iger\u2019s words, give them \u201cskin in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

His successor, D\u2019Amaro, last spring recalled bringing a 250-page binder<\/a> to Iger for review upon the chief\u2019s 2022 return to the Team Disney building in Burbank. The book was stuffed with detailed updates for each component of D\u2019Amaro\u2019s enormous parks and experiences division.<\/p>\n

The following day, Iger showed up at D\u2019Amaro\u2019s office, binder in hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe pulled out one page,\u201d D\u2019Amaro recounted during an investor conference last year, adding that Iger said: \u201cwe have plenty of room to grow this business. We\u2019ve got land in all of our locations around the world,\u201d D\u2019Amaro said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got the stories [and] we\u2019ve got the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

That laid the seeds for Disney\u2019s current $60-billion, 10-year investment program to expand theme parks and resorts, cruise lines and open a new venture in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. D\u2019Amaro was put in charge of the effort, which is designed to cement Disney\u2019s leading position in leisure entertainment. That mandate has become increasingly important to Disney amid the contraction of linear television and cable programming revenue.<\/p>\n

Iger\u2019s second stint as CEO wasn\u2019t nearly as fun as the first<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He was dragged into a bitter proxy fight with two billionaire investors<\/a>, who challenged his strategy, succession plans and Disney\u2019s 2019 purchase of much of Rupert Murdoch\u2019s 21st Century Fox. The move was controversial, with critics lamenting the $71-billion purchase price. Disney reduced its outlay by selling regional sports networks and other assets, but the deal left the company with significant debt just before COVID-19 hit. <\/p>\n

The Fox deal gave Disney rights to hundreds of properties, including \u201cAvatar,\u201d \u201cDeadpool\u201d and \u201cThe Simpsons.\u201d <\/p>\n

Iger vanquished the proxy challenge, and this week, he again defended the Fox purchase, which gave Disney control of streaming service Hulu, National Geographic channels and FX.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe deal we did for Fox, in many ways, was ahead of its time,\u201d Iger said on the earnings call, noting the lofty bidding war currently underway for Warner Bros. Discovery. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew that we would need more volume in terms of [intellectual property], and we did that deal,\u201d Iger said, pointing to Disney\u2019s deployment of its franchises beyond the big screen into its money-making theme parks. \u201cWhen you look at the footprint of the business today, it\u2019s never been more broad or more diverse.\u201d <\/p>\n

TD Cowen media analyst Doug Creutz still thinks the Fox deal was a dud, saying in a report: \u201cThere were plenty of value-destroying media deals before DIS-FOX, so we disagree with their assertion\u201d despite the multiples being offered for Warner.<\/p>\n

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\"Disney <\/picture>\n
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From left; James Gorman, chairman of the Walt Disney Co. board of directors; Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D\u2019Amaro; Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment; and Bob Iger, chief executive of the Walt Disney Co.<\/p>\n

(Walt Disney Co.)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Iger is credited with astutely managing Disney\u2019s image and corporate culture. <\/p>\n

He was instrumental in resolving Hollywood\u2019s bitter year of labor strife by negotiating truces with the Writers Guild of America and performers\u2019 union, SAG-AFTRA, in 2023.<\/p>\n

He has also sought to distance the company from divisive politics, albeit with limited success.<\/p>\n

Disney agreed to pay President Trump $16 million to settle a dispute over inaccurate statements that ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos made a month after Trump was reelected. But free speech advocates howled, accusing Disney of bending to Trump.<\/p>\n

In September, Iger led the company out of political quicksand amid an uprising of conservatives, including the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, a Trump appointee, who were riled by comments by ABC late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel in the wake of activist Charlie Kirk\u2019s killing. <\/p>\n

Iger maintains Disney made the decision to bench, and then return Kimmel to his late-night perch independent of the political pressure from both sides.<\/p>\n

Enormous challenges remain for D\u2019Amaro, the incoming CEO.<\/p>\n

He and his team, including Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden, must ensure Disney\u2019s movies and TV shows deliver on the company\u2019s commitment to quality, and that its streaming services \u2014 Disney+, Hulu and ESPN \u2014 rise above the competition. <\/p>\n

In recent years, Disney\u2019svaunted animation studios, including Pixar, have struggled to consistently release hits, <\/b>though it has found success with sequels. Disney Animation\u2019s \u201cZootopia 2\u201d is now the highest-grossing U.S. animated film of all time<\/a>, with worldwide box office revenue of more than $1.7 billion, and the 2024 Pixar film \u201cInside Out 2\u201d hauled in nearly $1.7 billion globally.<\/p>\n

The company also must maintain its pricey sports contracts, including with the NFL, to drive ESPN\u2019s success. This week, Disney and the NFL finalized their deal for the league to take a 10% stake in ESPN. <\/p>\n

And, as broadcast TV audiences continue to gray, Disney must evaluate the importance of the ABC network, where Iger got his start more than 50 years ago working behind-the-scenes for $150 a week.<\/p>\n

Investors also are looking for D\u2019Amaro to lift Disney\u2019s wobbly stock, which has fallen 8% so far this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe stock price doesn\u2019t fairly reflect what [Iger] has done, but … it will,\u201d Gorman said. \u201cAnd he should get credit for it.\u201d <\/p>\n

In a statement Tuesday, D\u2019Amaro expressed gratitude to Disney\u2019s board \u201cfor entrusting me with leading a company that means so much to me and millions around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI also want to express my gratitude to Bob Iger for his generous mentorship, his friendship, and the profound impact of his leadership,\u201d D\u2019Amaro said. <\/p>\n

Times staff writer Samantha Masunaga contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.latimes.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After two decades and two stints as Walt Disney Co. boss, Bob Iger finally is hanging up the reins. Disney this week tapped 54-year-old parks chief Josh D\u2019Amaro to succeed Iger as chief executive. The handoff is set for March 18, at the company\u2019s annual investor meeting, with Iger staying on as a senior advisor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2267040,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2267039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/At-Disney-Bob-Iger-succeeded-masterfully-But-new-CEO-Josh.com2F082F4f2F417fd213487a8f812b350cbe.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2267039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2267039"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2267039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2267041,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2267039\/revisions\/2267041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2267040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2267039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2267039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2267039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}