Disney’s (DIS) parks chief Josh D’Amaro and television head Dana Walden are in the lead for the top job at the media and entertainment giant, which is widely expected to promote a successor to CEO Bob Iger from within, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal late on Monday, citing employees and people who work with the company.
The two executives met with Disney’s board this summer in Orlando, Fla., to discuss their visions for the company should they become CEO, sources told WSJ. Whoever is named as the next CEO is expected to work alongside Iger for a while to learn the ropes before officially taking over, one source familiar with the board’s thinking told the news outlet.
One of the board’s top priorities for the current succession process is to ensure there is as little drama surrounding it as possible, with no major exits or brain drain when the new CEO is picked, sources told WSJ.
Disney’s board is expected to announce its pick to succeed Iger in early 2026. Iger’s contract expires next December.
The report said veteran film executive Alan Bergman, who runs streaming with Walden and oversees brands such as Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Avatar, is considered unlikely to replace Iger by employees and company partners.
ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro, Disney’s other top operating executive, has expressed he is in his “dream job” and doesn’t expect to become CEO given his lack of experience in scripted entertainment and parks, sources told WSJ. His contract has multiple years left on it, according to one of the people.
Many employees have aligned behind-the-scenes with D’Amaro or Walden, but no candidate wants to appear to be engaging in politicking, people close to the company told WSJ. Even so, every move and public appearance by senior executives is interpreted through the lens of how they may be positioning themselves for a post-Iger world, the report said.
Disney has also held contract extension talks with other top executives who report to Iger, including the people who operate key business units, a source told WSJ.
Contract extensions could include expanded responsibilities or bigger titles for top executives who don’t become CEO, as well as compensation increases, to motivate them to stay, people close to Disney told WSJ.