Josh D'Amaro chosen for CEO of Disney, Dana Walden for President/CCO

[salismetho]

 

[TheGentTrent]

 

[pumpkinbot343]

I’m not familiar with this guy, what will this mean?

 

[Evan]

I think this is a best case scenario.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

 

[DOOMBOT]

For all the required IP-infusions we've seen as of late at WDW, I have really appreciated the willingness to still take things in original-leaning directions.

We're not adding Radiator Springs to the Magic Kingdom, we're building a huge new landscape designed to flow with the rest of Frontierland and Liberty Square, also featuring Tow Mater. We're not cloning the Disneyland Indiana Jones ride or plopping in ZootopiaLand with no greater thought, we're making an Indy ride with a new location, narrative, and purpose that is designed specifically for Animal Kingdom.

I hope we continue to see that with Josh at the head, and hopefully, that original-leaning philosophy gives way to fully original projects in the parks again.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

D’Amaro is probably the most “parks guy” CEO that the company has ever had. Will be interesting to see how the direction for the rest of the company goes.

 

[OrlLover]

Well I think we all this choice coming from a mile away lol.

But I’m happy to see Josh in this role and how he shapes his legacy as CEO.

Bob Iger not being charged is always a good thing as well. I mean appreciate his contributions to Disney over the years but it’s obviously time for some fresh blood at the top.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

I dont know how I’d feel about this if I was a major shareholder. This guy seems too nice—I’m looking for insane psycho megalomaniac energy in my CEO’s.

 

[Viator]

Mentioned this in the Bob Iger thread; but Dana Waldren becoming the first proper "President" of The Walt Disney Company, with Josh taking on CEO is probably a genuinely fantastic choice.

It was just as important of what would happen to Dana in this case, if not more than Josh. And I think her resume with Fox TV and the TV/Streaming side of Disney shows an understanding to what is possible with her taking on a portion of the work.

 

[Andysol]

D’Amaro is probably the most “parks guy” CEO that the company has ever had. Will be interesting to see how the direction for the rest of the company goes.

I’m an Eisner Stan for sure outside of Walt.

Had Frank Wells not died; it’s likely we would have had Disney’s America and depending on how successful that was, we potentially would have had a significantly better DCA… and fully possible it would have been Westcot.

Eisner flat out said he didn’t have the fight after Wells died but he would have fought to get Disney’s America if he were alive. With Eisner then having to move towards the business side instead of the creative, the parks then suffered greatly under the atrocious folks put in place. But there’s no question the Disney Parks were in an absolutely amazing place with the Eisner/Wells combo.

So the ultimate thing for me is how much interest he puts in the parks vs how much he delegates. Because delegation without heavy creative supervision has a horrendous track record.

 

[Jerroddragon]

If Josh announced Westcot is finally coming to the DLR....he will be my second favorite CEO after Walt

 

[Jake S]

*pushes up glasses*
technically walt disney was never CEO of the disney company. roy disney was the CEO while walt was alive.

 

[GAcoaster]

This is the best case scenario for Disney. But, of course we all need to second guess Iger's judgement of someone's fitness for the role after Chapek.

 

[UOR92]

*pushes up glasses*
technically walt disney was never CEO of the disney company. roy disney was the CEO while walt was alive.

Respectfully


Edit: really wish my phone would let me add photos to the post and not as attachments. Now you’re the nerd and I’m the idiot. Lol

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I’m an Eisner Stan for sure outside of Walt.

Had Frank Wells not died; it’s likely we would have had Disney’s America and depending on how successful that was, we potentially would have had a significantly better DCA… and fully possible it would have been Westcot.

Eisner flat out said he didn’t have the fight after Wells died but he would have fought to get Disney’s America if he were alive. With Eisner then having to move towards the business side instead of the creative, the parks then suffered greatly under the atrocious folks put in place. But there’s no question the Disney Parks were in an absolutely amazing place with the Eisner/Wells combo.

So the ultimate thing for me is how much interest he puts in the parks vs how much he delegates. Because delegation without heavy creative supervision has a horrendous track record.

I just finished Eisner's Work in Progress book, and it's amazing how much he cared about the company (and his values)... and how much the last few years of his tenure ruined his credibility.

The guy did simultaneously approve Disney's most ambitious/insane concept of a theme park in Animal Kingdom, while also approving duds like DCA... only 3 years apart.

*pushes up glasses*
technically walt disney was never CEO of the disney company. roy disney was the CEO while walt was alive.

It's amazing how much people forget about Roy... without him I don't think Disneyland or Disney World would have ever happened with his financial genius.

 

[SeventyOne]

I dont know how I’d feel about this if I was a major shareholder. This guy seems too nice—I’m looking for insane psycho megalomaniac energy in my CEO’s.

I remember meeting the CEO of my own company maybe 15 years ago (we happened to be using adjoining conference rooms in the main NYC office). Really nice guy, kind of a "cool dad" type. But ... I know there's no way he got that position without backstabbing dozens of people.

D'Amaro exudes charisma from his pores. But, he was always crafty enough to get this job over Walden and who knows how many other candidates over the years. I wouldn't count him out just yet.

 

[Mad Dog]

I remember meeting the CEO of my own company maybe 15 years ago (we happened to be using adjoining conference rooms in the main NYC office). Really nice guy, kind of a "cool dad" type. But ... I know there's no way he got that position without backstabbing dozens of people.

D'Amaro exudes charisma from his pores. But, he was always crafty enough to get this job over Walden and who knows how many other candidates over the years. I wouldn't count him out just yet.

Yes, there's always a bit of the Machiavellian in all CEO's. The pathway requires it.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

I remember meeting the CEO of my own company maybe 15 years ago (we happened to be using adjoining conference rooms in the main NYC office). Really nice guy, kind of a "cool dad" type. But ... I know there's no way he got that position without backstabbing dozens of people.

D'Amaro exudes charisma from his pores. But, he was always crafty enough to get this job over Walden and who knows how many other candidates over the years. I wouldn't count him out just yet.

True! Maybe he’s the highest tier of psycho, in which case I say congrats Disney