Disney signals its next CEO will take over a company with strong momentum

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Disney signals its next CEO will take over a company with strong momentum

Published Mon, Feb 2 2026

10:17 AM EST

Updated 2 Min Ago

thumbnailLillian Rizzo@LilliannnnWATCH LIVE

Key Points

  • Disney is expected to announce the successor to CEO Bob Iger during the first quarter.
  • During Monday's call with investors, Iger said the company has delivered on the turnaround he set in place three years ago.
  • Disney's earnings were propelled by its theme parks and resorts. The current chairman of that business, Josh D'Amaro, is among the frontrunners to be the next CEO.

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Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger looks on prior to the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 10, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Michael Reaves | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images

Disney is ready for its next CEO.

On Monday, the company's leadership outlined its recent successes during its quarterly earnings report. CEO Bob Iger made the case that when his soon-to-be-named successor picks up the baton, Disney will be primed to seize the momentum.

"I'm incredibly proud of all that we've accomplished over the past three years to set Disney on the path to continued growth. I'm inspired and energized by the opportunities ahead for this wonderful company," Iger told investors on Monday.

Iger reclaimed the CEO role in late 2022 after a failed succession plan involving former parks boss Bob Chapek. Disney picked Chapek to succeed Iger in 2020 only to fire him 2.5 years later and undo many of the changes he'd implemented.

Now, Disney is counting on a smoother handover the second time around, cushioned by a path to growth.

The Disney board is meeting this week and is expected to vote on its next CEO, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity about internal matters. The company previously said it would announce a replacement for Iger in the first quarter of this year. 

"I think what is noteworthy is that when I came back three years ago, I had a tremendous amount that needed fixing," Iger said on Monday's call. "But anyone who runs a company also knows that it can't just be about fixing. It has to be preparing a company for its future and really putting in place, but taking steps to create opportunities for growth."

On Monday, Disney topped Wall Street expectations for both revenue and earnings for its fiscal first quarter.

The company's experiences division, which includes theme parks, resorts and cruises, notched more than $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time. Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D'Amaro is among the frontrunners to be named as the next CEO.

Industry insiders and Disney sources expect D'Amaro to be appointed Iger's successor, though the decision ultimately lies with the Disney board and won't be final until directors vote.

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Iger said he was "very, very bullish" the parks business and its ability to grow. Disney is now planning to develop a theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, has been launching more cruise ships and is in the midst of a previously announced investment of $60 billion into its theme parks over the next decade.

Meanwhile, Disney's entertainment segment — the unit that houses its TV networks, streaming and theatrical releases, and arguably needed the biggest turnaround in recent years — saw revenue rise 7% in the period. Disney stopped breaking out streaming subscriber growth this quarter, but offered guidance that showed Disney is confident it will continue to grow and offset traditional TV declines.

While theme parks, resorts and cruises have been the profit driver for Disney, its TV, streaming and film business is often in focus. Following underwhelming years at the box office, Disney dominated in 2025, and on Monday its leadership touted its slate ahead.

"Looking back just a few years when our movie business was suffering from Covid and the streaming business was obviously not in an acceptable place, it's clear that the future of both of those businesses, or let's call it our entertainment business, is also bright and it's going to grow," Iger said on the company's earnings call.

Disney's Co-Chairman of Entertainment, Dana Walden, is also among the Iger lieutenants vying for the CEO seat, CNBC previously reported.

Former Morgan Stanely CEO James Gorman has been running the process to select a successor. Given the focus on theme parks in recent years, speculation has recently swung in D'Amaro's favor.

"In a world that changes as much as it does ... trying to preserve the status quo was a mistake," Iger said Monday addressing Disney's last leadership transition.

"And I'm certain that my successor will not do that," he said. "They'll be handed, I think, a good hand in terms of the strength of the company, a number of opportunities to grow and also the expectation that in a world that changes, you also have to continue to change and evolve as well."

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