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Disney appoints Josh D’Amaro as new CEO, succeeding Bob Iger
BURBANK: The Walt Disney Company has named theme parks chief Josh D’Amaro as its next chief executive officer, marking the end of an era and the start of a carefully scripted new chapter for the entertainment giant.
D’Amaro, 54, will formally take over from Bob Iger on 18 March 2026, following Disney’s Annual Meeting. The board’s decision was unanimous, a rare show of confidence that underlines just how central D’Amaro has become to Disney’s modern story.
For the past five years, D’Amaro has run Disney Experiences, the company’s biggest business by revenue. It is the division behind the magic kingdoms, cruise ships and resorts that collectively pull in around 36 billion dollars a year and employ nearly 185,000 people worldwide. Under his watch, Disney has embarked on the largest theme park expansion in its history, pairing beloved characters with new technology and record guest satisfaction.
Disney chairman James Gorman said D’Amaro brings together creative instinct and operational muscle, a combination the board believes is vital as Disney navigates a fast-changing entertainment landscape. Bob Iger echoed that sentiment, praising D’Amaro’s ability to blend imagination with discipline, a hallmark of Disney at its best.
Alongside the CEO announcement, Disney also unveiled a new creative structure. Dana Walden, currently co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, will become president and chief creative officer, a newly created role. Reporting directly to D’Amaro, Walden will oversee storytelling across the entire company, from film and television to streaming, parks and beyond.
Creativity, Iger noted, remains Disney’s beating heart, and Walden’s appointment is designed to keep that pulse strong while aligning it more closely with business goals.
Iger himself is not disappearing just yet. After steering Disney through two decades of growth, disruption and reinvention, and returning in 2022 to steady the ship, he will stay on as senior advisor and a board member until his retirement at the end of 2026. His recent tenure has focused on restoring financial discipline, reshaping streaming, sharpening ESPN’s digital future and accelerating growth in parks and experiences.
D’Amaro, a Disney veteran of nearly 30 years, joined the company in 1998 and has held senior roles across finance, strategy, marketing and operations. He has overseen landmark attractions such as Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, Avengers Campus and World of Frozen, with more on the way including new lands inspired by Monsters, Inc., Cars and Disney Villains, plus a planned theme park in Abu Dhabi.
“I am immensely grateful for the trust placed in me,” D’Amaro said, adding that Disney’s greatest strength has always been its people and its stories.
The appointment follows a long and deliberate succession process launched in 2023, with D’Amaro and Walden both undergoing extensive preparation and mentorship. For Disney, the message is clear. This is not a sudden plot twist, but a handover carefully written well before the curtain rises on the next act.
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KFC turns tea time into dunk time with Khushi and Orry
Dunked range campaign mixes gossip, friendship and extra sauce.
MUMBAI: When the tea is hot and the chicken is hotter, you know it is going to be a night in. KFC has unveiled a new campaign for its all-new Dunked range, enlisting Bollywood’s favourite BFF duo Khushi Kapoor and Orry for a reel that serves sass with a side of sauce.
The video plays out like a familiar Gen Z script. A party is ditched after Orry’s swollen face becomes the evening’s plot twist. Instead of flashing lights and crowded dance floors, the duo opts for a cosy night in. Khushi proposes a New Year resolution to simply stay home more often. Orry counters with a more ambitious goal shedding his “gossip aunty” reputation, a claim that earns him a sceptical look.
Naturally, restraint does not last long. Before Khushi can finish her sentence, Orry launches into animated storytelling mode. Celebrity break-ups, DM drama, influencers on diets, the tea flows freely, and so does the dunking. Between bites and banter, KFC’s Dunked range becomes the unofficial third wheel, anchoring the conversation in indulgence.
The campaign cleverly mirrors product and persona. Just as the Dunked range promises bold flavours and generous sauce, the reel leans into exaggerated expressions, playful tension and friendship dynamics that feel instantly shareable. The storytelling is fast, cheeky and built for scroll culture.
By tapping into pop-culture references and the easy chemistry between the two personalities, KFC positions its Dunked range as the perfect partner for laid-back evenings where gossip is plentiful, resolutions are flexible and the sauce is unapologetically extra.
The campaign is now live across KFC’s digital platforms, targeting younger audiences who see food not just as a meal, but as a mood.
Because sometimes, the best parties are the ones you skip, especially when the tea is this juicy.
