Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said Friday that the company’s parks division delivered a “big surprise” last quarter and that he feels confident about the company’s direction in his first months atop the media giant.
Speaking with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, D’Amaro said the company is executing on its commitments as it looks ahead.
“We’re delivering on everything that we said we’re going to deliver on,” D’Amaro said. “I think there’s clarity inside of the organization in terms of where we need to go next. A lot of stability with the team. So you know, almost six months in, I’m feeling pretty good about where we are.”
D’Amaro took over as Disney CEO in March, succeeding Bob Iger after a closely watched succession race and following a period of turnaround at the company. He had most recently served as chairman of Disney Experiences, the unit that includes theme parks, cruise lines and consumer products and that drives much of Disney’s profitability.
Parks and streaming in focus
Since stepping into the top job, D’Amaro’s immediate priorities have been sustaining momentum in Disney’s core growth areas — theme parks and streaming. Those units have been a focus for investors, and Disney has received a mixed reception on Wall Street in recent quarters.
Last week, Disney reported quarterly results that once again highlighted the strengths of those divisions. Wall Street appeared pleased with growth in the theme park segment, even as macroeconomic uncertainty weighs on consumers.
D’Amaro also said the company is considering a free, ad-supported streaming product as a way to draw more viewers to Disney+. He has previously emphasized a focus on investing in intellectual property, often highlighting Disney’s storytelling and creative unit and the need to embrace technology to advance the company.
Early turbulence
D’Amaro’s first months have not been without challenges. Disney’s latest round of cost-cutting began weeks after he took the helm, with an initial round of layoffs affecting nearly 1,000 employees. More recently, the company reportedly cut several hundred employees from its ESPN, Pixar and National Geographic divisions.
The CEO has also faced political pressure, particularly around Disney’s ABC network. The broadcast unit has drawn backlash from the Trump administration and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr over its “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The View” programs. The FCC has also opened an early review of Disney’s broadcast station licenses following concerns about the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Disney has pushed back against the FCC, calling the review an “unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional order.”
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/14/disney-ceo-josh-damaro-d23-expo.html
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