The future and current CEOs of The Walt Disney Company, Josh D'Amaro and Bob Iger, offered an exclusive inside look at what's next for the company as D'Amaro gets ready to take on the role next month.
D'Amaro and Iger spoke with "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir on Tuesday to discuss the transition and more in a wide-ranging exclusive interview hours after D'Amaro, chair of Disney’s experiences unit, was named Disney's next CEO, effective in March.
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"Of course, I feel the weight on my shoulders. I think I should feel it," D'Amaro told Muir about moving into the chief executive role. "I just feel so fortunate to be in a position to be able to be that next steward for the brand into the next 100 years."
Iger discussed the importance of the next CEO appreciating the scope of Disney's brand.
"Disney really is a cultural institution that has touched hundreds of millions of people for now over 100 years," Iger said. "And having that appreciation, knowing the place Disney occupies in people's lives, I think is essential to anyone occupying this position, in terms of their ability to move the company forward."
He noted the importance of "that careful balance between legacy and innovation."
D'Amaro touched on the advantage he has coming into the position, having worked under Iger for several years leading up to this point, and watching him maintain that balance.
"I've had the great benefit and the great honor of working with Bob for all of those years, first from a distance and now much more up close and personal. And I've watched probably the best of the best balance those two things," D'Amaro said.
D’Amaro, 54, joined the company in 1998 and oversees a global network of theme parks and hotel resorts. He also leads the company’s cruise ships and consumer products, among other initiatives.
He has a degree in business administration from Georgetown University and started his career at Disney, working at Disneyland Resort, where he went on to become president. He has also served as president of Walt Disney World Resort.
The new CEO shared that he plans to carry on Iger's legacy of risk-taking.
"Bob's a big risk-taker. I'm a big risk-taker, and that's been true my whole life," said D'Amaro, citing Disney's recent planned expansion into Abu Dhabi.
Another risk the new CEO will have to consider is Disney's planned involvement in the world of artificial intelligence, after the company announced plans to invest $1 billion in the artificial intelligence company OpenAI.
"One of the reasons Josh was chosen for this position is, I've observed him over the years that we've worked together as someone that views technology as an opportunity and not a threat," Iger said of D'Amaro's ability to consider new technology.
"The reason this company is so special is because of how creative we are and the human beings that are generating that creativity," D'Amaro said, adding, "This is real. AI, to Bob's point, is here and it's something that we're embracing. And you're seeing it supercharged these creatives in amazing ways."
Along with the arrival of a new CEO, Disney announced on Tuesday that Dana Walden, head of Disney’s entertainment business, would become The Walt Disney Company's president and chief creative officer.
"She is an incredibly powerful executive. She's got years and years of experience in this space. She's exceptionally creative and she's a great human being," D'Amaro said.
Iger's role as Disney CEO winds down after returning to the role in 2022, following a 15-year stint leading the company and serving as chairman from 2005 to 2020. After stepping aside in 2020, Iger served as executive chairman and chairman of the board until 2021.
"You can't just turn the switch off one day on something that you've been so involved with," Iger said of leaving a role that holds "such an important" place in his life.
"But, I'm just looking forward to quieter moments and quieter days and a little bit more, I don't know, room in my life," he added.
