Josh D’Amaro thanked his predecessor, outlined key objectives and gave shoutouts to all parts of the company in his very first remarks to shareholders as chief executive of the Walt Disney Company. It’s a major day, one that’s been long anticipated.
“Bob, on behalf of our employees, cast members, shareholders, and fans around the world, thank you so much for your tremendous leadership, your steadfast support, and your countless contributions,” he said Wednesday at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders. “You’ve set an incredible example for all of us. And personally, I can’t thank you enough for your mentorship and friendship through the years. You will be missed.”
Disney Experiences Chairman D’Amaro was named the next CEO last month, capping a closely watched multiyear process of identifying Iger‘s successor. Dana Walden, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman, has been named President and Chief Creative Officer, a newly created role.
“Disney has always been a place of imagination, innovation, and infinite potential – bringing human creativity together with cutting-edge technology to create unforgettable storytelling experiences. And very early on, Walt was thinking beyond the screen – from movies, music, and television, to merchandise, publishing, and theme parks. That vision has grown to encompass sports, news, games, streaming, cruise ships, hotels, and so much more,” he said.
“All of our businesses reinforce and amplify one another. And at the center of The Walt Disney Company is the extraordinary connection we have with our fans – a relationship built over generations through the stories and characters that people carry with them throughout their lives. There is nothing quite like it, and all these years later, that connection has never been more relevant – or more powerful – than it is today. It remains our greatest competitive advantage. No one else has the ability to do this at the scale, quality, and global reach that Disney can.
“Simply put, while others in our industry are consolidating just to compete, or struggling to be relevant in a fragmented and disrupted world, Disney is in a category of one poised to accelerate into our next era of innovation and growth. And this next chapter will be driven by staying focused on world-class creativity, enhanced by technology, bringing unforgettable stories to audiences wherever they are.”
D’Amaro gave as shout out to massively popular animated kids series Bluey, upcoming Toy Story 5 – including a sneak peek — and the company’s box office turnaround, ESPN and sports and Disney+, which he said “will continue to evolve beyond a traditional streaming service to become the digital centerpiece of our company – a portal that connects our stories, experiences, games, films, and more in entirely new ways.” The company is working quickly to bring Disney+ and Hulu into a unified experience later this year, he said, that will drive even more value for subscribers and for our business.
He talked up international expansion, empowering storytelling with technology and noted record revenue at parks amid a $60 billion global investment program. He unveiled the name of the company’s planned ninth cruise ship, the Disney Believe.
“Like so many of you, my connection to Disney goes back to my childhood, long before I began my career here. I grew up in a ‘Disney family.’ We watched ‘The Wonderful World of Disney’ on Sunday nights. I was 10 years old when my family visited Disneyland for the first time. So, as I stand next to the old animation building where Walt and his team brought so many of our beloved stories and characters to life, I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful for the opportunity to lead this remarkable company,” D’Amaro said.
More to come
English (US) ·