Who will be the next CEO of the Walt Disney Company? That’s the big looming question over Disney as current CEO Bob Iger heads into what’s supposed to be his final year. As we head into 2026, Bloomberg surveyed more than 700 entertainment industry experts about a variety of topics, including who they think will take over as Disney CEO.
Here’s how the experts responded when asked who will be Disney’s CEO after Bob Iger. You’ll notice Iger received quite a few votes.
Dana Walden received the most votes last year, but she has fallen behind D’Amaro as the apparent favorite for the job. However, many believe Iger could once again extend his stay. Iger returned to the job in 2022 after Disney parted ways with then-CEO Bob Chapek. He then agreed to a contract extension that runs out December 31, 2026.
Why would Iger once again stay past his end date? It’s possible that he, and Disney, may not feel confident enough in any of their new options. The decision to appoint Chapek (a decision Iger helped make) was a disaster. Disney doesn’t want to make the same mistake.
The survey also asked who was the best CEO in media. Iger came in second behind Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters of Netflix. Iger also received votes for who the experts thought was the worst CEO in media, but significantly fewer.
D’Amaro is widely reported to be next in line for the job. But, he’s not a perfect candidate. While he has plenty of experience running Disney’s theme parks, there’s questions about how he’d handle the film and streaming side of the business. That perceived weakness is why some think Iger will once again stay beyond his announced ending date.
