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Industry Polls Point to Josh D’Amaro as Front-Runner for Disney CEO Ahead of Early 2026 Decision

Surveys reflect confidence in his parks record alongside questions over entertainment leadership.

Overview

  • Bloomberg’s year-end survey of more than 700 industry experts put Disney Experiences chief Josh D’Amaro first at roughly 30%, ahead of Dana Walden at about 22% and Bob Iger at around 18%.
  • CNBC’s outreach to 16 anonymous media executives also indicated a belief that D’Amaro will be named the company’s next chief executive.
  • Disney has said it will identify Iger’s successor in early 2026, and prior statements indicate a transition period before Iger’s contract ends in late 2026.
  • Supporters point to the Parks division’s performance, with reports citing more than $10 billion in operating income in 2025 under D’Amaro’s leadership.
  • Commentary notes concerns about D’Amaro’s film and streaming experience, and the Bloomberg poll also showed interest in alternatives such as a co-CEO model (15.3%), an outside hire (8.8%), or another internal pick (5.5%).