Disney Bets On Experiences Leadership

The Walt Disney Company has appointed Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, as its new chief executive, signalling a strategic emphasis on theme parks, resorts and cruises as core profit engines.

D’Amaro will assume the role on March 18, replacing Bob Iger, who returned as chief executive in 2022. His elevation from head of experiences highlights the financial weight of the division within Disney’s portfolio. In the first fiscal quarter of this year, the experiences segment generated 38 per cent of total revenue but accounted for 71 per cent of operating income, underlining its disproportionate contribution to profitability.

According to Steve Granelli, a teaching professor of communications studies at Northeastern University, the decision reflects investment in Disney’s “most durable moneymakers”. While previous leadership narratives prioritised film and streaming, Granelli suggested that framing the company primarily through entertainment media has diluted brand strength in recent years. Disney’s streaming platform, Disney Plus, reached profitability for the first time in 2024 after incurring billions in operating losses since its 2019 launch. By contrast, the parks business continues to attract strong demand, with an estimated 50 million annual visitors to Walt Disney World in Orlando.

The leadership transition does not mark a retreat from media and content. Dana Walden, formerly co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, has been appointed the company’s first President and Chief Creative Officer, tasked with overseeing entertainment media, news and content alongside D’Amaro. The structure suggests an attempt to balance experiential revenue streams with creative output.

Industry peers are pursuing similar strategies. Universal Orlando last year opened Universal Epic Universe, a multi-themed development built at a reported cost of $7.7bn over eight years. Granelli noted that experiential assets differ structurally from film or television properties, offering repeat engagement and evolving attractions that sustain consumer loyalty.

The appointment positions experiential strategy at the centre of Disney’s executive agenda, reflecting the division’s financial resilience within a shifting entertainment landscape.