The Walt Disney Firm (DIS) is gearing up for the most-watched casting determination of the last decade: Who will substitute Bob Iger in 2026? After many years of Disney energy performs, Iger’s closing act as CEO will probably be handing over the keys to the Magic Kingdom—and this time, the board higher get it proper. Disney’s earlier succession saga was straight out of Succession—however much less enjoyable. Iger has led Disney for many years, initially turning into president in 2000 earlier than taking over the CEO position in 2005. In 2020, Bob Chapek took the reigns from Iger, however after COVID-19 and heated streaming wars in opposition to different media conglomerates, the board hit rewind, bringing Iger again in 2022 to proper the ship.
Whereas Iger’s return was understood to be non permanent, no clear successor is being groomed by the chief to take his spot. Now 73, Iger’s contract expires in December 2026, after it was prolonged as soon as once more final summer time. Succession planning has lengthy been a contentious challenge for the leisure large. Throughout Iger’s first tenure as CEO, he postponed his retirement a number of occasions, and potential successors like former Chief Working Officer Tom Staggs exited the corporate in frustration. After stepping down from the position in 2020, Iger remained as the corporate’s chairman whereas Chapek was not supplied a spot on the board. In an uncommon association, Chapek was anticipated to report on to each Iger and the board, whereas Iger continued working out of the workplace sometimes reserved for Disney CEOs.
Disney Chair Mark Parker is main the cost to keep away from one other spherical of musical CEOs, and he’s received a high-powered crew in his nook, together with incoming Chair James Gorman of Morgan Stanley and company heavyweights like Lululemon’s Calvin McDonald and Basic Motors’ Mary Barra. Whereas Disney has not confirmed any contenders, listed here are a couple of executives the enduring firm would possibly faucet for one of many hardest gigs in media.
The Disney Insiders
- Dana Walden is certainly one of Disney’s most influential gamers within the Hollywood area, and her journey reads quite a bit like Iger’s personal rise by way of the community ranks. As co-chairman of Disney Leisure, she instructions an empire of TV programming and streaming, and he or she’s received the connections and artistic cachet to point out for it. Walden lower her enamel at Fox, the place she reworked it into an Emmy-collecting machine. Her transfer to Disney within the twenty first Century Fox acquisition raised eyebrows, nevertheless it additionally strengthened Disney’s grip on the TV panorama. The massive query is whether or not 5 years at Disney qualify her for the throne. At 59, Walden may develop into Disney’s first feminine CEO—if she will be able to persuade the board her Hollywood savvy interprets to Disney’s numerous empire.
- If Walden’s the outsider-turned-insider, Alan Bergman is pure Disney DNA. Bergman began at Disney in 1996 and rose by way of the ranks to co-chair Disney Leisure alongside Walden, overseeing the mega-franchises—Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm—that outline Disney at present. He’s the architect behind a number of the highest-grossing movies of all time, from Avengers: Endgame to Avatar: The Means of
Water . If Disney desires a frontrunner who understands its cinematic soul, Bergman’s the plain alternative. But Bergman’s laser deal with movie may very well be a legal responsibility. He’s a gradual hand, positive, however Disney’s future is extra sophisticated than field workplace numbers. With streaming and digital on the frontlines, Bergman might must show he’s able to steer Disney into uncharted waters. - Josh D’Amaro is the golden boy of Disney’s Parks and Resorts division. Beginning as a frontline worker in 1998, he’s now answerable for 180,000 staff, Disney’s $60 billion parks growth, and the corporate’s 2024 earnings—60 % of which got here from his sector. D’Amaro has fan attraction and monetary outcomes on his aspect. The problem? D’Amaro’s expertise with movie and TV is slim; in Iger’s eyes, streaming stays Disney’s fundamental progress engine. Disney’s streaming service hit its first worthwhile quarter in 2024, although it’s nonetheless shy of Netflix’s numbers. D’Amaro is a theme park legend, however whether or not he can pivot Disney’s media divisions to compete on a worldwide scale is a distinct query.
- Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN’s mastermind, is not any stranger to a company rebirth. Since taking up ESPN in 2018, he’s introduced the community again from scores declines, secured a serious 11-year NFL deal and rolled out a direct-to-consumer service set to debut in 2025. With ESPN now a digital powerhouse, Pitaro’s received the chops for Disney’s streaming ambitions, to not point out the crossover expertise from his time heading up Disney’s shopper merchandise. However can a sports activities man rule Disney? His expertise managing the merchandising juggernauts of Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars helps his case. Pitaro’s path has been unconventional, however he’s confirmed he can drive Disney’s enterprise from a number of angles.
Outdoors Titans: Daring Options
Disney’s succession course of has been something however typical. Whereas insiders are the most secure alternative, the board would possibly simply go rogue, given Disney’s present crossroads. With Disney’s inventory down practically 50 % from its 2021 peak and legacy networks like ABC shedding relevance, the corporate would possibly look to Silicon Valley or Hollywood for a breath of contemporary air.
- YouTube CEO Neal Mohan simply took the crown for overseeing the most-watched community on American tv—dethroning Disney itself. Bringing in a tech govt together with his digital and advert experience would sign that Disney’s severe about competing on tech giants’ turf. Mohan’s expertise would possibly make him the boldest, most transformative alternative, however his tech-centric background could be a seismic shift for Disney’s historically entertainment-driven CEO position.
- If Disney desires to remain king of the content material fort, tapping certainly one of Netflix’s Co-CEOs, Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, is likely to be the play. Sarandos has made Netflix a cultural juggernaut, whereas Peters has targeted on worldwide growth and progress. Each may convey a hard-hitting streaming technique to Disney—one thing buyers would possibly crave after years of Disney+ rising pains.
- Netflix Head of Content material Bela Bajaria‘s monitor document contains large hits like Stranger Issues, Squid Recreation and Bridgerton. She’s confirmed her potential to choose international crowd-pleasers, which may completely match Disney’s scale and ambition. Bajaria’s distinctive background mixing content material curation with worldwide attraction makes her a standout choice—if Disney’s able to embrace an outside-the-box visionary.
- Netflix Movie Chief Dan Lin’s portfolio speaks for itself: he’s the mind behind The LEGO Film and Sherlock Holmes, plus a Hollywood producer with expertise on either side of the studio equation. Bringing Lin in would imply severe artistic clout and franchise-building experience—abilities that Disney may leverage because it navigates its legacy franchises and expands its IP. Lin could be daring but strategic, marrying Disney’s historical past with future-focused storytelling.
What’s Subsequent for Disney?
As Disney considers its subsequent transfer, the query is whether or not it wants an insider who can keep on Iger’s imaginative and prescient or an outsider who can shake issues up. This isn’t simply any handoff; it’s a defining second for Disney’s model, legacy and future. With Iger’s retirement set for December 2026, Disney’s board can both protect the Iger legacy or pivot to one thing solely new. Whoever steps up will want greater than a resume—they’ll want the foresight to guide Disney by way of the streaming wars, park expansions and no matter content material evolution the following decade brings.
