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Disney board close to appointing Josh D’Amaro as next CEO, Bloomberg News reports
CALIFORNIA: Disney’s board is circling a decision that could redraw the company’s future. Josh D’Amaro, the parks chief who runs Disney’s global resorts empire, is close to being elevated to chief executive, according to Bloomberg News.
Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that directors are preparing to vote on the new boss as early as next week. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Disney did not respond to a request for comment.
The choice comes after years of messy succession drama at the media giant. Investors have kept a wary eye on leadership planning since Bob Iger delayed retirement multiple times, then returned in 2022 to replace his own successor, Bob Chapek, when the pandemic battered Disney’s business.
D’Amaro, chairman of Disney experiences, oversees parks and resort hotels across the United States, Europe and Asia, operations that form Disney’s most powerful revenue engine. Reuters had earlier flagged him as a contender with Iger-like charisma and operational heft.
Still, Disney publicly projects caution. “The board has not yet selected the next CEO of the Walt Disney Co. and once that decision is made, we will announce it,” a Disney spokesperson said in an emailed statement cited by Bloomberg.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Iger has told associates he intends to step down and retreat from daily management before his contract ends on December 31. The newspaper also said the board plans to meet next week at headquarters in Burbank, California, where a vote on Iger’s replacement is expected.
Disney had already signalled the clock was ticking. In 2024 it said a successor would be named in early 2026, the first time the company had put a formal timeline on the handover.
Now the endgame looks near. After years of false starts and boardroom intrigue, the magic kingdom may finally be choosing its next ringmaster. Whether that restores investor faith or simply opens a new chapter in Disney’s long-running succession soap opera will soon be clear.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
