By Anna Viitala

 

A new successor for the Walt Disney Company has been chosen. Josh D’Amaro, current chairman of Disney Experiences, is to succeed Bob Iger as the CEO of Disney on March 18th of this year. 

 

The process of deciding a new CEO can take years to make the decision. Eventually through the process of elimination, they have two final competitors for the title of Walt Disney Company CEO. The candidates receive mentorship from the current CEO, direct engagement with board members, and external coaching. Eventually it comes down to who earns the most favor from the board members and shareholders. The decision this time around was between Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden, the Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment.

 

Josh D’Amaro was seen as more independent and competitive. Competitiveness is an aspect that shareholders see as more beneficial to companies. According to Disney enthusiast Matthew D’Ambrosio, Dana Walden was much more focused on profit than creativity. She is more supportive of using AI in films than Josh D’Amaro is. Matthew states “D’Amaro probably won’t be the greatest CEO of all time, but he gives me hope for the future.”

 

Since D’Amaro is the chairman of Disney Experiences, it is likely that he will focus his attention on the parks more than the films. He has worked on expanding the parks in the past, including the decision of the upcoming Disney park in Dubai, which will be the seventh of Disney’s theme park resorts. 

 

The current CEO that D’Amaro will succeed is Bob Iger. Iger served as CEO once before then came back later to serve as a place holder until the board found a new CEO. In some people’s opinion, Disney was running better during Iger’s main time as the CEO.

 

Rides are likely to start becoming more linked to actual movies instead of just concepts, like the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train instead of Space Mountain. 

 

Positives that have been pointed out about D’Amaro is that he is known to be involved, forming bonds with customers and employees, according to Matthew.

 

There is a lot of hope going towards this new CEO, Josh D’Amaro since Disney has dropped in ratings over the past few years. Disney World’s popularity has dropped by 26% recently. Mrs. Miller says “I would love nothing more than for Disney to reinvent itself for this next generation. As a place that is a magical getaway whether it’s in a film or it’s at one of their parks. That it’s a magical getaway for kids and their families to just kind of take a break from the crazy world and be in a special romantic place again. You know where there’s just joy and play and adventure and I think- that’s what they used to do well. I’d like to see them do that again.”. Mr. Howell shares a similar sentiment believing going to the movie theater to be a thing of the past. “It really feels like the only way they’re going to make money and compete against everybody else , to make a name for themselves, is to create live experiences.” Both believe that Disney can’t stay in their older ways any more and must adapt to keep the magic alive.

 

Disney is known for their way of trying to make customers happy and make the world feel a bit more magical. There are many hopes that Disney will continue spreading magic and wonder, whether it’s through a screen or at the happiest place on earth