Disney names Josh D'Amaro, who leads its parks division, as new CEO. He will succeed longtime executive Bob Iger.https://t.co/fZqCwnHleq ...

Core Insights - Disney has appointed Josh D'Amaro as the new CEO, marking him as the 9th CEO in the company's history, succeeding Bob Iger [1] - D'Amaro has been leading Disney's Experiences division, which generated $36 billion in annual revenue in fiscal 2025 and employs 185,000 people globally [1] - The company is currently experiencing success with box-office hits and a strong streaming business, but faces challenges with declining foreign visitors to its domestic theme parks [2] Leadership Transition - D'Amaro's responsibilities will include leveraging Disney's intellectual property for successful movies and theme park expansions, as well as driving growth in streaming and sports [3] - The decision to appoint a new CEO comes after a previous unsuccessful transition that led to Iger's return to the role in 2022 [4] - Disney undertook a thorough succession planning process, starting in 2023, and enlisted James Gorman to lead the search for the new CEO [5] Internal vs External Candidates - Iger will remain as a senior adviser and board member until his retirement at the end of the year, and while external candidates were considered, the expectation was that Disney would promote from within [6] - The internal promotion is seen as beneficial due to the mentorship provided by Iger and the candidates' familiarity with the company's board [6] Unique Challenges - Disney's CEO must manage a diverse entertainment empire while also being a prominent public figure, with D'Amaro and Dana Walden emerging as leading candidates for the role [7]

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Core Viewpoint - Josh D'Amaro has been appointed as the new CEO of The Walt Disney Company, succeeding Bob Iger, marking the end of a significant succession process within the company [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership Changes - The Disney board has unanimously voted to elevate Josh D'Amaro, currently the chairman of Disney Experiences, to CEO effective March 18, 2026 [2]. - Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, will assume a newly created role as president and chief creative officer, reporting directly to D'Amaro [3]. - Bob Iger will remain on Disney's board and serve as a senior adviser until his retirement on December 31, 2026 [3].

Core Insights - Ocumetics Technology Corp. announced positive three-month postoperative results from Group 1 patients in its first-in-human clinical study of the Ocumetics Accommodating Intraocular Lens, validating the company's core technology and marking a significant clinical de-risking milestone as it progresses to subsequent study phases [2][6]. Clinical Results - Group 1 data met or exceeded all predefined internal benchmarks for safety, lens delivery, and foundational distance visual performance, successfully achieving the primary objectives required to advance the clinical program [3][6]. - Patients in Group 1 entered the study with severe visual impairment, with some presenting uncorrected preoperative acuities as poor as 20/250, and post-implantation outcomes demonstrated significant improvements in everyday vision [4][5]. Management Statements - The President and CEO of Ocumetics expressed confidence in the accommodating intraocular lens technology following the successful results, indicating that planning for Group 2 surgeries has already begun [4][10]. - The principal investigator of the trial highlighted that all patient outcomes met safety expectations and emphasized the life-changing impact of the implantations on patients previously classified as legally blind [5][7]. Future Developments - Ocumetics is applying a rapid "win-learn" R&D approach, incorporating real-time surgeon feedback to optimize performance, with refinements to the lens delivery mechanism already implemented based on insights from Group 1 [8]. - Manufacturing and testing of optimized lens designs are currently underway, with Group 2 surgeries expected to be scheduled following the completion of final lens testing and validation [9].

Core Viewpoint - The Walt Disney Co. has appointed Josh D'Amaro as the new CEO, succeeding Bob Iger, marking a significant leadership transition in one of the world's leading entertainment companies [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Josh D'Amaro, previously chairman of Disney's theme parks and experiences division, has been promoted to CEO, a role he takes over after Iger's return in 2022 [1][2]. - D'Amaro's leadership in the parks and experiences division has been pivotal, as this segment generates over 70% of Disney's operating income while accounting for less than 40% of total revenue [3]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - D'Amaro's elevation highlights the increasing strategic importance of physical experiences, such as theme parks and cruises, to Disney's future, alongside its digital media initiatives [4]. - The transition aims to prevent the issues faced during the previous CEO change, where Bob Chapek struggled in his brief tenure [4]. Group 3: Market Reaction - Initial reactions from investors have been positive, with many preferring D'Amaro for the CEO position due to his steady operational approach and success in parks [5]. - Industry observers believe D'Amaro's low public profile may influence his negotiation style with talent and partners in the evolving media landscape [5]. Group 4: Future Considerations - Attention will focus on how D'Amaro will structure his leadership team and who will take over his previous role in parks and experiences [6]. - Analysts will be looking for indications regarding Disney's streaming strategy, the future of ESPN, and potential adjustments to recent price increases in parks and services [6].

Walt Disney Names Parks Chief D'Amaro as New CEO. The Stock Rises. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# Walt Disney Names D'Amaro as Next CEO. The Stock Is Rising.By [Nate Wolf]ShareResize---ReprintsIn this article[DIS]Josh D'Ama ...

Walt Disney Names Parks Chief D'Amaro as New CEO. The Stock Rises. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# Walt Disney Names Parks Chief D'Amaro as New CEO. The Stock Is Rising.By [Nate Wolf]ShareResize---ReprintsIn this article[DIS ...

In this articleDISJosh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, speaks during the grand opening ceremony of Shanghai Disney Resort's Zootopia-themed land on December 19, 2023 in Shanghai, China.Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesThe Walt Disney Company has a new CEO — Josh D'Amaro.The chairman of Disney's experiences division, which includes the company's theme parks, cruise line, resorts and consumer products, was named to succeed long-time CEO Bob Iger. He will be the eighth CEO in Disney's more than ...

🚨BREAKING: DISNEY ANNOUNCES NEW CEO JOSH D'AMAROD'Amaro succeeds Bob Iger as @Disney CEO.He is currently chairman of the Disney's experiences division, and oversaw a $60 billion expansion of it. https://t.co/MQdwLuSzNh ...