The curtain has officially come down on Bob Iger‘s second run as CEO of Disney — marking the end of a years-long succession drama at the company.
At the media giant’s 2026 shareholders meeting Wednesday, held virtually, Iger passed the torch to incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro, formerly the company’s head of parks, cruises and consumer products.
More than being a toast to Iger, the confab, which is typically a pro forma affair, served as a stage to shine the spotlight on D’Amaro. In his remarks, D’Amaro indicated that he remains committed to the same principles that Iger adhered to as chief exec — including wielding Disney+ as the Mouse House’s main gateway to connect with fans worldwide.
“Disney+ will continue to evolve beyond a traditional streaming service to become the digital centerpiece of our company: a portal that connects our stories, experiences, games, films and more in entirely new ways,” D’Amaro told investors.
D’Amaro said the company is “working quickly to bring Disney+ and Hulu into a unified experience later this year,” which he predicted will “drive even more value for subscribers and for our business.” And, he said, “When you add ESPN to the mix, it becomes a grand slam for consumers.” The sports giant last summer introduced ESPN Unlimited, a stand-alone streamer that includes everything from ESPN’s networks.
For his part, Iger delivered a prerecorded farewell address.
“I appreciate what a privilege it is to be in this business,” Iger said. “I never dreamed I would end up as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.”
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When he first became CEO in 2005, he said, “What I couldn’t have fully known then was how meaningful this journey would become,” while acknowledging that Disney over the years has “experienced extraordinary change” and faced significant challenges.
“I’ve always believed that leaders don’t create the magic,” Iger said, adding that “my greatest privilege has been to support that talent.”
Iger previously retired at the end of 2021, after serving as CEO of Disney for 15 years, and was replaced by then-CEO Bob Chapek. But in November 2022, the board ousted Chapek and brought Iger back as chief exec.
In his comments Wednesday, Iger said that “when I returned in 2022, people had lost confidence in this company.” A little more than three years later, Iger said, “I believe deeply in this company’s future, because I believe in Josh D’Amaro” and his executive team. Iger called out Dana Walden, newly appointed to be Disney’s first chief creative officer overseeing film and TV operations, saying she “will play a vital role” in “focusing on our most critical endeavor” of storytelling.
Iger said he will be “cheering on” D’Amaro and Walden “as I sail off to into the sunset.” About his time serving as CEO of Disney, Iger said, “It has meant more to me than I can say.”
At the start of his remarks, D’Amaro praised Iger, who cumulatively led Disney as CEO for nearly 20 years.
“Bob, on behalf of our employees, cast members, shareholders, and fans around the world, thank you so much for your tremendous leadership, your steadfast support, and your countless contributions to the Walt Disney Company,” he said. “You’ve set an incredible example for all of us. And personally, I can’t thank you enough for your mentorship and friendship through the years. You will be missed.”
D’Amaro also said, “When Bob returned to the company a few years ago, his goal was to fortify our business and lay the groundwork for long-term growth, by reigniting creativity and improving performance at our studios, building a robust and profitable streaming business, transforming ESPN for a digital future, and turbocharging our parks and experiences. We’ve accomplished all of those things, and we’re operating from a place of strength, with ample opportunity for growth.”
Alluding to Paramount Skydance’s pending takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, D’Amaro said that “while others in our industry are consolidating just to compete, or struggling to be relevant in a fragmented and disrupted world, Disney is in a category of one poised to accelerate into our next era of innovation and growth. And this next chapter will be driven by staying focused on world-class creativity, enhanced by technology, bringing unforgettable stories to audiences wherever they are.”
Earlier Wednesday, D’Amaro, in a Day One memo to Disney staffers, spelled out his priorities. No. 1 was that “great storytelling and creative excellence will remain our North Star,” a point that underscores he will be leaning on Dana Walden, who is assuming the new role of chief creative officer, to lead the film and TV side of the business.
At the shareholders meeting, D’Amaro reiterated that the company’s divisions will work in concert as “One Disney” — and he cited as “no better example than Toy Story.”
The original 1995 film from Pixar, released more than a decade before Disney acquired the company, “changed moviegoing forever with the first CG-animated feature.” Today, Toy Story characters “live everywhere our audiences do – in homes across the globe through Disney+ and consumer products, in our hotels, and in every one of our theme parks and cruise ships. And we’re expanding that world with a brand-new story that is just as exciting, fun, and relevant as the films that came before it, when ‘Toy Story 5’ hits theaters in June.”
Iger will remain employed by Disney through the end of 2026, in which capacity he will serve as a “senior adviser” to D’Amaro.
At the meeting, Iger was set to be reelected to Disney’s board for a one-year term. Shareholders were also expected to approve the rest of Disney’s recommended slate of directors, including chairman James Gorman and newly added director Jeff Williams, former COO of Apple.
Pictured top: Josh D’Amaro and Bob Iger at the 70th anniversary celebration of Disneyland on July 17, 2025
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