The Walt Disney Company is considering a dual role for its chief executive position as the company nears a deadline to pick a successor for current CEO Bob Iger, according to a report published this week.
The story, from CNBC, said the two most-likely candidates for Disney’s co-CEO structure — should it come to pass — are Dana Walden and Josh D’Amaro. Walden currently serves as the co-chair of Disney Entertainment, where she oversees ABC, Hulu, Disney Plus and other content distribution platforms; D’Amaro is the Chairman of Disney Experiences, and is in charge of the company’s theme parks, cruise line and merchandise.
Industry observers say the pair’s complementary strengths — Walden in Hollywood, D’Amaro in parks and products — make them a logical duo to succeed Iger jointly. Disney has until next year to find a successor for Iger.
A co-leadership structure would also keep both executives in the fold, avoiding a repeat of 2020 when streaming chief Kevin Mayer left Disney for TikTok after being passed over for the top job.
Other companies have embraced a co-CEO structure in recent years: Streaming giant Netflix adopted the structure five years ago, when co-founder Reed Hastings picked Ted Sarandos to serve alongside him. Hastings was later succeeded by Greg Peters.
The Netflix structure worked because the co-CEOs had clearly-established roles and boundaries: Sarandos oversaw content opportunities and licensing, while Peters is largely in charge of technology and advertising. Hastings, in his chairman role, helps break ties.
Paramount Global also established a co-CEO structure that saw the company led by three executives following the departure of Robert Bakish in mid-2024. The three CEOs — Chris McCarthy, Brian Robbins and George Cheeks — were previously in charge of different units at Paramount, ranging from television broadcasting to Paramount’s film studios. The co-CEO structure ended in August, when Paramount was acquired by Skydance Media.
Oracle and Comcast have also adopted co-CEO structures, and those approaches have run smoothly. Disney’s co-CEO structure may not run quite as well, based on the company’s own history. Citing unnamed sources, CNBC said Iger once called Sarandos to inquire about how Netflix was run under its current structure. Iger also had creative control over certain business units at Disney during the reign of former CEO Robert Chapek, which created internal politics and tension. Disney’s board replaced Chapek with Iger in 2022.
For now, Disney’s board faces a choice between continuity and clarity. A co-CEO structure may preserve top talent, but history suggests it could also revive old power struggles at one of Hollywood’s most complex companies.
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