MAM
Who is Josh D’Amaro, mayor of Main Street USA and Disney’s new CEO?
LOS ANGELES: Josh D’Amaro has been appointed chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, becoming the ninth leader in the firm’s 100-year history as the entertainment giant confronts slowing television revenues, rising production costs and softening box-office returns.
A long-time Disney insider and former head of the parks division, the 54-year-old replaces Bob Iger after a turbulent leadership cycle that followed the short-lived tenure of Bob Chapek. Known for his approachable style and deep loyalty to the company, D’Amaro has built a strong reputation among employees and fans alike.
His promotion reflects the growing importance of Disney’s experiences business, which includes theme parks, resorts, cruise lines, consumer products and games. The division now delivers more than 70 per cent of operating profit, posting $3.3 billion in the December quarter alone. Under D’Amaro, Disney committed roughly $60 billion to expand parks and cruises globally, while laying plans for its first Middle East resort in Abu Dhabi.
He also backed Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, aimed at blending gaming with entertainment franchises.
Yet challenges loom. Disney’s traditional television business continues to shrink, while blockbuster franchises such as Marvel and Star Wars have lost some of their shine. Competition is intensifying, with Comcast’s NBCUniversal opening the $7 billion Universal Epic Universe near Walt Disney World in Florida. International visitor numbers to US parks have also dipped.
D’Amaro, a Georgetown University graduate who joined Disney in 1998, has held senior roles across marketing, finance and operations, including president of Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. During the pandemic, he oversaw park closures and later spearheaded new attractions in Hong Kong and Japan.
His lack of experience in film, television and streaming mirrors one of the weaknesses that dogged Chapek’s leadership. At the same time, Hollywood is grappling with disruption from generative artificial intelligence, while consolidation battles among Netflix, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery threaten to reshape the industry.
Despite the headwinds, supporters describe D’Amaro as a passionate steward of Disney’s legacy. “Disney runs through his blood,” said a former Imagineer.
Shares in Disney are down about 40 per cent over five years, underscoring the scale of the task now facing its new chief.
Brands
Radio City names Brijesh Magoo as national brand solutions head
Former Ishq FM programming lead to drive creative and revenue strategy
MUMBAI: Radio City India has appointed Brijesh Magoo as national head for brand solutions, strengthening its creative and content-led offerings as it looks to deepen advertiser engagement.
Magoo steps into the role after a brief stint as consultant for creative solutions at Radio City, where he worked on shaping integrated brand propositions. In his new position, he will lead the network’s creative solutions arm, focusing on building branded content, driving revenue opportunities and enhancing client partnerships.
He brings with him over a decade of experience across radio programming, content strategy and creative leadership. Most recently, he served as national programming head at Ishq 104.8 FM, where he led content strategy and programming initiatives at a national level.
During his time with Ishq FM, Magoo held multiple leadership roles, including national creative lead and head of programming, as well as programming head for Mumbai. His work spanned content development, audience engagement and format innovation, helping shape the station’s identity in a competitive radio landscape.
Prior to this, he spent six years at Red FM, rising from executive producer to assistant programming head, where he honed his skills in creative direction and on-air content strategy. He also had a brief stint as head of copy at Jack in the Box Worldwide, adding an agency perspective to his portfolio.
Magoo is an alumnus of Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad, where he specialised in creative communications, and holds a degree in management studies from University of Mumbai.
His appointment signals Radio City’s continued focus on content-driven brand solutions, where storytelling and advertising increasingly go hand in hand. As audio platforms evolve beyond traditional broadcasting, Magoo’s blend of programming and creative expertise could help the network tune into new growth frequencies.
