Josh D’Amaro has been named to Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026 — and his predecessor Bob Iger personally wrote the tribute, calling the new Disney CEO someone who “fundamentally understands” what makes Disney unlike any other company in the world.
Time’s 100 Most Influential People list is one of the most closely watched annual rankings in media. Published each spring, it draws tribute writers from the highest levels of government, business, entertainment, and culture. Landing on the list is a signal that someone is not just leading their industry — they are shaping it in ways the broader world has noticed. For Disney fans, seeing D’Amaro recognized here, just weeks into his tenure as CEO, carries real weight. It confirms that the people watching Disney from the outside see exactly what many of us who love the parks already knew.
What Bob Iger Wrote About Josh D’Amaro
The tribute was penned by Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO who led the company for nearly two decades across two stints and hand-picked D’Amaro as his successor. Iger wrote that he believes in the future of The Walt Disney Co. because he believes in Josh D’Amaro, citing D’Amaro’s deep appreciation for what Disney means to the world and his respect for fans as a defining strength. Iger called D’Amaro’s ability to connect with people one of his superpowers. He also specifically noted that D’Amaro understands creativity is the fuel that has always powered Disney, and expressed confidence that creators and creative processes will endure and thrive under his leadership. Coming from the man who presided over the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, that is not a casual endorsement.
D’Amaro, 54, became the eighth CEO of The Walt Disney Company on March 18, 2026, at Disney’s annual shareholder meeting. He is a nearly three-decade Disney veteran who previously served as chairman of Disney Experiences, the company’s largest business segment, which generated $36 billion in annual revenue in fiscal year 2025. Before that role, he served as president of Walt Disney World Resort and president of Disneyland Resort. He joined Disney in 1998 after graduating from Georgetown University with a degree in business administration. He is widely regarded among Disney park fans as one of the most visible and people-focused leaders the company has produced in years, known for showing up on park floors, engaging directly with cast members, and speaking openly about the guest experience in a way that felt genuine rather than corporate.
D’Amaro steps into the CEO role at a pivotal moment. Disney has returned to the top of the global box office, its streaming business has reached consecutive quarters of profitability, and the company is in the middle of its most ambitious theme park expansion in history — including a new park and resort in Abu Dhabi. Iger’s tribute makes clear that the transition was not just a passing of keys but a deliberate choice to hand the company to someone who sees Disney the way its most devoted fans do: as something worth protecting, worth investing in, and worth getting right. D’Amaro’s presence on the Time 100 list, this early, suggests the broader world is paying attention to what happens next.
For full Disney parks and entertainment coverage, visit Fantasy Land News and explore our Walt Disney World hub for the latest news from the parks.
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Named to Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026
